CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Chelmsford Care Centre Ltd
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, October 2023
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with some care records and activity information needing improvement.
This was the first inspection since the home registered. It was unannounced. Inspectors visited on 25 September 2023 and also carried out inspection activity between 20 and 30 September. They spoke with people, relatives, staff and health professionals, and checked care plans, recruitment files, medicines and quality systems.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough suitably checked staff, safe medicines systems, good infection control and support for people's health, nutrition and choices.
People and relatives spoke positively about the home. Inspectors saw staff treating people with kindness, dignity and respect. Care plans covered people's needs and preferences, complaints were handled, and managers used audits and feedback to improve the service.
There were some areas to improve. Information about managing diabetes and Parkinson's was not initially detailed enough, although this was corrected during the inspection. Bedrooms were not as personal as they could be, and there was no written activities programme for people and families to see.
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors saw warm and respectful relationships between staff and people. Staff gave people time and responded gently when they were distressed.
“We saw many examples of how warm, friendly, and respectful the staff were to people.” from the report
Safe medicines
Medicines were given safely and records showed people received them on time and as prescribed. Staff were trained and their competence was checked.
“Medicine records were maintained to a good standard, and demonstrated people received their medicines on time and as prescribed.” from the report
Good staffing and training
Inspectors found enough nursing and care staff with the skills needed for people with high support needs. Recruitment checks and staff training were in place.
“There was enough nursing and care staff deployed within the service.” from the report
Strong management oversight
The home used audits, feedback and incident reviews to monitor care and make improvements. Staff felt supported and confident about raising concerns.
“Robust systems were in place for the oversight of the service and to monitor the quality of the care provided.” from the report
Condition-specific risk information
needs fixingInformation about managing risks linked to diabetes and Parkinson's was not initially as detailed as it should have been. The provider reviewed the care plans and said the relevant information had been added and shared with staff during the inspection.
“However, information about managing risks related to diabetes and Parkinson's was not as robust as it could be.” from the report
Activities information
minorPeople had activities and staff supported individual interests, but there was no programme showing what was available. This could make it harder for people and families to choose activities.
“There was no activities programme for people to see what was available.” from the report
Personalising bedrooms
minorInspectors found that bedrooms did not contain as many personal items as they could. The home had contacted relatives about bringing in belongings.
“People's rooms were not as personalised as they could be.” from the report
- 01How do you make sure care plans contain clear instructions for managing diabetes, Parkinson's and other specific conditions?
- 02How are changes to care plans shared with all staff who support my relative?
- 03How do residents and families find out what activities are available each day or week?
- 04How would you personalise my relative's bedroom, and what belongings can we bring in?
- 05How will you keep us informed about changes in our relative's health or care needs?
This was an unannounced first inspection covering all five key questions, including infection prevention and control; there were no previous ratings to carry over. This explanation was written from the published report of 20 October 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.
Every inspection of Chelmsford Care Centre Ltd
Each visit the CQC has published, newest first, back to the day the home was registered.
- October 2023Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2022
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 10 November 2022.
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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35 live-in carers within about an hour of Essex
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. 25 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Not only was she professional, polite and efficient but she bought a lovely smile and laughter to my parents home.”
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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.