CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Chapelfields
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found people were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Staffing, recruitment, medicines, infection control and risk management were all described as safe.
- Effective?
- Good
- This question was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was carried forward when calculating the overall rating.
- Caring?
- Good
- This question was not inspected during this visit. Inspectors did observe compassionate and inclusive interactions, but did not give a new rating for Caring.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This question was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was carried forward when calculating the overall rating.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found effective audits, quality monitoring and a positive culture. The rating improved from Requires Improvement at the previous inspection, although meetings were not always scheduled regularly.
What inspectors found, December 2023
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind care, but meetings with families and staff were not always held regularly.
This was an unannounced focused inspection on 13 and 14 November 2023. One inspector and one Expert by Experience spoke with people, relatives, staff and visiting professionals. They reviewed care plans, medicines records, staff recruitment files and records about how the home was managed.
The home was rated Good overall. Safe and well-led were both rated Good. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines practice, suitable safeguarding arrangements, good infection control and effective checks on risks and the building.
People and relatives spoke positively about the staff. Inspectors saw kind and respectful care, and found a positive culture. However, meetings involving people, relatives and staff were sometimes held only when needed rather than on a regular schedule. The CQC made a recommendation about this.
This inspection only assessed Safe and Well-led. The other three question ratings were not reviewed and the overall Good rating was calculated using the previous ratings. The overall rating stayed Good, and Well-led improved from Requires Improvement at the last inspection.
Safe care
Safeguarding systems were in place and staff knew how to recognise abuse and raise concerns. Risks, fire safety and equipment were checked and monitored.
“People, their relatives and visiting professionals told us they thought the service was safe.” from the report
Medicines
Medicines records were complete and accurate. Inspectors found that people received medicines as prescribed, including controlled and as-needed medicines.
“Medicines were managed safely, and people received their medicines as prescribed.” from the report
Staffing
Inspectors found enough staff and safe recruitment checks. People said staff responded promptly when they needed help.
“During the inspection, we observed staff responding to call bells promptly, and people's needs were met in a timely way.” from the report
Kind staff and culture
People, relatives and professionals spoke positively about staff. Inspectors saw staff working together and treating people with kindness and respect.
“During the inspection, we observed staff working professionally and collaboratively with one another.” from the report
Quality monitoring
The management team used audits and improvement plans to monitor the service. Inspectors found evidence of learning after incidents and ongoing improvement work.
“Quality monitoring was effective and robust, and the service evidenced continuous improvement.” from the report
Meetings were not regular
needs fixingMeetings for staff, relatives and management were sometimes arranged on an ad hoc basis. The CQC recommended that meetings should be scheduled more reliably and held promptly.
“However, these meetings were not always scheduled and were at times, completed on an 'ad hoc' basis.” from the report
- 01How often are meetings for relatives, residents and staff now scheduled, and how are actions from those meetings followed up?
- 02What progress has been made with the electronic care management system?
- 03What improvements have been made to falls management, care records and the dementia strategy?
- 04How will you show that feedback from residents and relatives leads to changes?
- 05What were the previous Requires Improvement issues for Well-led, and how have you checked that they are now resolved?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only; the other ratings carried over from the previous inspection and were used to calculate the overall rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 21 December 2023 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, February 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured about infection prevention, testing, protective equipment and safe visiting.
This was an announced inspection on 11 February 2021. It was carried out as part of CQC’s coronavirus pandemic checks on infection prevention and control in care homes.
Inspectors found the home was clean and hygienic. Staff used protective equipment, visitors had checks, people were tested and new residents were isolated on admission.
People appeared relaxed and comfortable despite restrictions. Relatives could visit in a Covid-safe setting.
The service was inspected but not rated. This visit therefore gives no overall quality rating or rated score for the five questions.
Clean environment
The home had enhanced cleaning arrangements to help reduce the spread of infection.
“The environment was clean and hygienic with an enhanced cleaning schedule in place to minimise the spread of infection.” from the report
Protective equipment
Staff used appropriate protective equipment, and their ability to use it was checked regularly.
“Staff wore appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and had their competency to use this assessed on a regular basis.” from the report
Testing and admissions
People and staff were tested, and new admissions had a period of isolation. Individual risk assessments considered the risk of infection.
“Risk assessments had been devised by the service for individuals to take the risk of them being infected into account and new admissions underwent an period of isolation.” from the report
Comfort and visiting
Despite restrictions, people appeared comfortable and relatives could visit in a Covid-safe environment.
“Despite restrictions; people who used the service appeared relaxed, comfortable and a home-like atmosphere was sustained.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are people and staff tested now, and what happens if a test is positive?
- 02How do you assess infection risks for each person, including new admissions?
- 03How do you check that staff continue to use protective equipment safely?
- 04How are visits arranged now, and what checks are made for visitors?
- 05What recent inspection or quality information is available for care, staffing, activities and management, which this visit did not rate?
This was a coronavirus infection control assurance review; the service was inspected but not rated and the report does not provide ratings for the other areas of care. This explanation was written from the published report of 26 February 2021 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 Chapelfields
3 rated inspections over 7 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- December 2023Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2021Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- November 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- September 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 10 November 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.
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84 live-in carers within about an hour of Cheshire West and Chester
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 £980 to £1,260 a week. 76 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“She is an exemplary carer, she is knowledgable empathetic and very respectful in the home.”
“It was clear that she genuinely cared and her warm approach really helped put our minds at ease.”
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.