CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Chessel Avenue
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that the home managed infection prevention, visitors, testing, personal protective equipment, social distancing and admissions safely. The provider also said it had measures to reduce the effects of COVID-19 staffing pressures.
- Effective?
- Good
- Does the care work? Training, consent, food and drink, working with GPs and nurses.
- Caring?
- Good
- Are people treated with kindness and dignity?
- Responsive?
- Good
- Is care built around the person? Care plans, activities, complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Is the home run well? The manager, the culture, how problems get found and fixed.
What inspectors found, March 2022
Chessel Avenue was inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured about infection control, visits and support for staff during COVID-19.
This was a targeted inspection about infection control, visiting arrangements and the effect of COVID-19 staffing pressures. It took place on 22 February 2022 and was announced three hours in advance.
There were five people living at the home. Inspectors were assured that the home managed visitors, testing, personal protective equipment, cleaning, social distancing and admissions safely. The home also supported people to keep in touch with loved ones.
The service adapted activities when usual activities were affected by pandemic restrictions. Staff had wellbeing support and training, and senior staff attended local infection control meetings.
The home was inspected but not rated. This means the visit did not give an overall quality rating or a full rating for all five areas of care.
Infection control
Inspectors were assured that the home used appropriate infection control measures, including personal protective equipment, testing, hygiene and an up-to-date policy.
“We were assured that the provider was using PPE effectively and safely.” from the report
Keeping people connected
People could have safe visits from loved ones or visit them outside the home. Staff also helped people use tablets to stay in touch.
“People had tablet devices and staff helped them keep in touch with people who were important to them.” from the report
Support for staff
The service had wellbeing initiatives and training for staff. Senior staff also joined local infection control meetings to receive current information.
“The service had supported staff through wellbeing initiatives.” from the report
Activities and decision-making
The home adapted activities when restrictions affected people's usual routines. The manager understood capacity and helped people make decisions about testing and vaccination.
“The service had adapted activities for people to take place in the home during periods where their usual activities were affected by restrictions due to the pandemic” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What is the home's current approach to infection control, testing and personal protective equipment?
- 02How can relatives visit, and what happens if someone in the home has an infection?
- 03How does the home manage staffing pressures and make sure they do not affect people's care?
- 04How are activities adapted when people cannot take part in their usual activities?
- 05How are people supported to make decisions about their care, testing and vaccination?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19 staffing pressures, so it did not provide a full rating of all five areas of care. This explanation was written from the published report of 31 March 2022 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, September 2018
Chessel Avenue was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with end-of-life planning still being developed.
This was an unannounced inspection on 7 August 2018. Two inspectors reviewed care, medicine and other records, complaints, incidents and quality checks. They spoke with people living in the home, a relative, staff, managers and a health professional. They also observed care and a safety audit.
The home supported five adults with learning disabilities, mental health needs or acquired brain injury. Inspectors found people were safe, medicines were managed correctly, and there were enough trained staff. The home was clean, well maintained and suitable for the people living there.
People were treated with respect and supported to make choices, build skills and become more independent. Care was personalised, activities matched people's interests, and people were supported to keep relationships and access healthcare. The home had good systems for listening to feedback and checking the quality of care.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. The rating stayed the same as at the previous inspection. The report says there was no evidence of serious risks or concerns, although advanced care planning for the end of life was still being developed.
Safe medicines and staffing
Medicines records showed people received the medicines they needed at the right time. Inspectors also found enough staff to meet people's needs and support them to go out.
“Medicines records were completed correctly which showed people received the medicines they needed when they needed them.” from the report
Building independence
The home helped people develop communication, money management and other life skills. People were supported to work towards their own goals.
“People living at Chessel Avenue were supported to become more independent and to gain life skills to help them achieve their goals.” from the report
Respectful relationships
Staff knew people's histories, preferences and emotional needs. People were treated with respect and given privacy and personal space.
“People living at Chessel Avenue were treated with respect and compassion.” from the report
Personalised activities
People were involved in setting goals and planning their care. Activities included interests, community opportunities and practical skills.
“People's care plans were detailed and included things which were important to them, their daily routines, preferences and people who were important to them.” from the report
Good oversight
The home used audits, feedback and meetings to check care and respond to problems. Inspectors found that actions were taken when improvements were identified.
“There were audits in place to check the quality and safety of the service.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How have advanced care plans been completed or improved since this inspection?
- 02How will my relative's communication needs be recorded in a way they can understand and use?
- 03How do you make sure agency staff know each person's needs and preferences?
- 04How are people supported to keep building independence, work towards goals and take part in activities?
- 05How will the home involve our family in end-of-life decisions and support us after a death?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five CQC areas, and the report used a shorter format because the overall rating had not changed. This explanation was written from the published report of 18 September 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 Chessel Avenue
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- March 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- September 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2012
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 12 November 2012.
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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46 live-in carers within about an hour of Southampton
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 £1,350 a week. 39 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“I cannot recommend Prisca highly enough, she is one in a million.”
“He stayed with her throughout the pandemic, refusing to visit his own family, who lived nearby, to reduce the risk of infection.”
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.