CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Chescombe
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found enough staff to meet people's needs most of the time, safe medicines arrangements and suitable risk assessments. Staff understood how to recognise and report abuse.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff had training and support, worked with health professionals and supported people with healthcare appointments, food choices and lawful decision-making. Some required notifications about deprivation of liberty authorisations had not been sent at first.
- Caring?
- Good
- Inspectors saw kind relationships between staff and people. People were supported to stay in contact with family, take part in activities and live as independently as possible.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Staff understood people's individual communication needs, interests and preferences. People had personalised rooms, activities, keyworkers and ways to raise concerns.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home had a registered manager and house managers. Staff, people and families were invited to give feedback, and regular checks were used to identify and follow up improvements.
What inspectors found, November 2018
Chescombe was rated Good; inspectors found safe, caring and personalised support, with minor shortfalls in notifications and staffing when absences occurred.
The inspection was unannounced and took place on 18 and 22 October 2018. One inspector observed care, spoke with people, staff, family members and health professionals, and checked care plans, medicines, complaints and quality records.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff most of the time, safe medicines support, knowledgeable staff and good links with health professionals.
People appeared comfortable and settled. Staff supported independence, family contact, communication and activities that matched people's interests. The home had systems for complaints and quality checks.
The overall rating stayed Good, as it had been at the previous inspection. Inspectors said there was no evidence of serious risks or concerns.
Kind relationships
Inspectors saw strong, supportive relationships. People appeared content, comfortable and confident when approaching staff for help.
“Throughout our visit, we saw evidence of kind, caring staff and strong supportive relationships with people.” from the report
Support for independence
People living in self-contained flats could receive staff support when needed. Staff helped people manage parts of everyday life themselves.
“There was a strong focus on supporting people to lead their lives as independently as possible.” from the report
Personalised communication
Staff adapted how they communicated, using signs, pictures, symbols and diaries to understand people's needs and feelings.
“We saw how staff interacted with people, adapting their communication to individual need.” from the report
Activities and family contact
People took part in activities based on their interests and were supported to maintain contact with family and loved ones.
“People were able to take part in a wide range of activities according to their own individual interests.” from the report
Quality monitoring
Managers carried out regular checks and used action plans to make improvements. People, staff and families were also asked for their views.
“There were systems in place to monitor the quality and safety of the service provided.” from the report
Unexpected staff absence
minorStaff reported occasional difficulties when colleagues were unexpectedly absent, although inspectors found staffing levels worked well most of the time.
“Staff told us that there were occasional difficulties when staff were absent unexpectedly but most of the time staffing levels worked well.” from the report
Late notifications
needs fixingNot all notifications about deprivation of liberty authorisations had been made to CQC at the time of inspection. The outstanding notifications were submitted shortly afterwards.
“Some notifications had been made to CQC when DoLS authorisations had been made but not all.” from the report
- 01How do you maintain safe staffing levels when someone is unexpectedly absent?
- 02Have you now submitted all required notifications about deprivation of liberty authorisations?
- 03How will you support my relative's particular communication needs, such as signs, pictures or other aids?
- 04What activities are currently available that match my relative's interests?
- 05How will my relative and our family be able to give feedback or raise a complaint?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five CQC questions, and the report says the overall Good rating continued from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 20 November 2018 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 Chescombe
3 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- November 2018Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2016Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2015Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- January 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 27 April 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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39 live-in carers within about an hour of South Gloucestershire
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 £1,280 a week. 32 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“She was very caring, kind and patient to all his needs, she built up a wondetful rapport with him, she was dedicated and was there for him through good times as well as through the tough times”
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.