CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Chaffinches
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Risks, staffing, medicines, infection control and the building were managed safely.
- Effective?
- Good
- Care plans reflected people's choices and were updated. Staff had suitable training and people were supported with healthy eating, healthcare and decision-making.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff knew people well and treated them with dignity and respect. People were involved in decisions and encouraged to build independence.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Support was personalised and flexible. People had weekly programmes, used local services and were helped to pursue work, education, relationships and leisure activities.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home was described as well organised and open. Monthly audits and development plans were used to monitor safety and improve care.
What inspectors found, January 2020
Chaffinches was rated Good overall; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care with strong support for independence.
This was a planned inspection on 29 October 2019. One inspector spent time with two of the three people living in the home. One person was away. The inspector spoke with staff, the manager and two relatives, and checked care records, staff files, medicines systems, complaints, accidents and quality checks.
The inspectors found that people received personalised support which matched their needs and choices. People were involved in planning their care, setting goals, preparing food and making decisions. They were supported to use local services, take part in activities and spend time independently where this was safe.
The home had enough staff, managed medicines safely and assessed risks. Staff were trained and knew people well. People and relatives spoke positively about the home. All five areas were rated Good, which means the inspectors found the service met the expected standards at this inspection.
Personalised support
Care plans reflected people's needs, preferences and goals. People were active partners in planning and reviewing their support.
“People living at Chaffinches received personalised support which met their needs and preferences.” from the report
Independence and community life
People were supported to make choices, go out independently where appropriate and take part in local activities, education and work experience.
“People were encouraged and supported to become part of the community they lived in.” from the report
Kind relationships
Inspectors saw positive relationships between people and staff. People appeared comfortable, and staff supported them gently and respectfully.
“People were supported and treated with dignity and respect; and involved as partners in their care.” from the report
Strong safety systems
The home assessed risks, managed medicines safely, maintained the environment and had staff training and quality checks in place.
“Risks to people's health, safety and wellbeing were assessed and acted upon.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you support my relative's individual goals, interests and preferred routines?
- 02How would you support my relative to take part in local activities or spend time independently?
- 03How would you manage my relative's medicines, including any medicines taken only when needed?
- 04How would you communicate care and health information if my relative needs easy-read or picture-supported information?
- 05How would you involve my relative and our family in reviewing the care plan and raising concerns?
This was a planned inspection of the whole care home and covered all five key questions; all five ratings were Good. This explanation was written from the published report of 23 January 2020 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
What inspectors found, June 2017
Chaffinches was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with staff training being reviewed.
This was a comprehensive, announced inspection on 16 May 2017. The inspector spoke with all three people living in the home, staff and an administrator, observed care, and checked care plans, medicines, safety records and management documents.
The home remained Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found people were protected from abuse and avoidable risks, received their medicines safely, and were supported by staff who knew them well.
People were involved in decisions about their care, meals and activities. They were supported to stay independent, keep relationships, attend work or education, join activities and raise concerns. The report says the home had continued to meet all the fundamental standards of quality and safety.
Safe staffing and medicines
Inspectors found enough staff and no need for agency workers, so people were supported by staff they knew. Medicines records were up to date and medicines were handled safely.
“The service had a full staff complement and never needed to use agency staff.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff knew people's needs and preferences and treated them with kindness. Inspectors saw friendly and respectful interactions and found that privacy and dignity were protected.
“People's wellbeing was protected and all interactions observed between staff and people living at the service were caring, friendly and respectful.” from the report
Personalised support and independence
People helped create and review their care plans. They were supported to make choices, maintain independence and work towards their own goals.
“People received support that was individualised to their personal preferences and needs.” from the report
Activities and community life
People had individual daytime plans and took part in work, education, holidays and activities in the local community. They could also choose new activities.
“People had access to a busy activity schedule.” from the report
Open management
The home used audits, meetings and surveys to check the quality of care. Staff said they felt supported and that their suggestions were taken seriously.
“The provider had an effective audit system in place that included regular audits of the care plans, health action plans and medication records.” from the report
Training arrangements under review
minorThe report says work was under way to bring the training offer in line with the latest guidance. Inspectors still found staff had the training needed at the time of inspection, so this was a minor point rather than a reported failure.
“Work was underway to review and amend the training provision so that it was in line with the latest Skills for Care guidance on ongoing training for social care staff.” from the report
- 01What changes have you made to staff training since the inspection?
- 02How do you make sure new staff are suitable and have completed the required induction before supporting people?
- 03How are each person's care plans reviewed when their needs, preferences or independence change?
- 04What activities, work, education and community opportunities would be available for my relative?
- 05How can my relative or our family raise a concern, and how would it be followed up?
This was a comprehensive inspection covering all five key questions, involving all three people living in the home and checks of care, medicines, safety and management records. This explanation was written from the published report of 21 June 2017 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
Every inspection of Chaffinches
4 rated inspections over 5 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- January 2020Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2015Goodstayed GoodSafe: Good
- May 2015GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 19 January 2011.
Ratings and report dates from the Care Quality Commission, Open Government Licence v3.0. A home can also be visited without a new rating being published, so the timeline shows published inspections.
Weigh the report against the rest
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42 live-in carers within about an hour of West Berkshire
These are self-employed carers on PrimeCarers, the introductory agency that runs this directory. Each has a profile with their own rates and reviews from families, and you choose who to talk to.
Most charge £1,020 to £1,260 a week. 36 can care for a couple. 14 years' experience on average.
“Titus has compassion, patience, a great sense of humour and a very professional attitude.”
“Barbara treated my mother-in-law with enormous love and compassion and provided an environment where she could feel safe and seen”
Every carer has had an enhanced DBS check in the last 18 months, ID and right-to-work checks and an online interview. Their skills and training are for you to check with them. Carers set their own rates, and who is free changes week to week.