CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at The Chantry
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, June 2023
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind care, but quality checks needed reorganising and activities were being developed.
The inspection took place on 6 June 2023. One inspector spoke with people and staff, observed care, checked care and recruitment records, and received feedback from a relative and health professionals.
The home supported up to 16 adults with learning disabilities. Nine people were living there at the inspection. Inspectors found people were safe, staff understood their needs, medicines were managed properly, and staffing matched people's needs.
Staff were described as kind and supportive. The home promoted people's choices and rights. However, inspectors found that systems for checking quality and safety needed to be reorganised. The home was also exploring more meaningful activities.
The overall rating was Good. Safe was rated Good and Well-led was rated Good. This report did not give ratings for Effective, Caring or Responsive.
People felt safe
Staff knew people well and understood how to protect them. Inspectors observed relaxed and positive body language when people interacted with staff.
“People were kept safe from avoidable harm because staff knew them well and understood how to protect them from abuse.” from the report
Care was kind
Staff relationships with people were caring and supportive. The report describes care that protected people's individuality and promoted their rights.
“Staff relationships with people were caring and supportive. Staff provided care that was kind and compassionate.” from the report
Good risk management
The home had detailed risk assessments, regular safety checks and personal evacuation plans. Staff updated care plans and risk assessments after incidents when needed.
“There were comprehensive risk assessments in place covering all aspects of the service and support provided.” from the report
Supportive leadership
Managers were visible and approachable. Staff said they felt respected and valued, and inspectors found a positive culture focused on improvement.
“Staff felt respected, supported, and valued by the management team which supported a positive and improvement-driven culture.” from the report
Quality checks needed improvement
needs fixingInspectors found that the systems used to monitor quality and safety needed reorganising. The home contacted the local authority's Quality Assurance and Improvement Team for support.
“Our inspection found that these systems needed to be reorganised to ensure they remained effective.” from the report
More meaningful activities
minorThe home's improvement plan identified the need to explore new activities and increase access to meaningful occupations. Health professionals agreed to share ideas to help with this work.
“The provider's action/improvement plan identified that an area of work was to explore new activities to increase people's access to meaningful occupations.” from the report
Safeguarding refresher training
needs fixingStaff had safeguarding training and knew how to report concerns, but managers recognised that refresher training still needed to take place.
“The management team recognised that refresher training needed to take place.” from the report
- 01What changes have you made to the quality and safety monitoring systems since the inspection?
- 02What did the Quality Assurance and Improvement Team find at its scheduled visit on 13 July 2023?
- 03What new meaningful activities are now available, and how do people choose them?
- 04Has the safeguarding refresher training been completed for all relevant staff?
- 05How is the home being managed while the registered manager is absent?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led, including infection prevention and control; Effective, Caring and Responsive were not rated in this report. This explanation was written from the published report of 28 June 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, December 2020
The Chantry was inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control and support during the coronavirus pandemic.
Inspectors made an announced visit on 17 November 2020. They checked infection prevention and control measures as part of a coronavirus pandemic review.
They found up-to-date infection control guidance, suitable risk assessments and staff training. Visitors were screened, asked to use hand hygiene and wear face coverings, and the home had arrangements for testing, personal protective equipment, social distancing and safe admissions.
Staff helped residents stay occupied during lockdown and supported contact with family through video calls. The home was inspected but not rated, so this report does not give an overall quality rating.
Infection control
The home had current infection control guidance, risk assessments and procedures. Staff understood the reasons for the safety measures.
“The staff were following up to date infection prevention and control guidance to help people to stay safe.” from the report
Visitor safety
Visitors were screened for symptoms and given clear instructions about handwashing and face coverings before entering.
“All visitors were screened for symptoms of acute respiratory infection before being allowed to enter the home and other signs of Covid-19.” from the report
Family contact
Staff helped residents keep in touch with relatives and friends when usual contact was restricted.
“Alternative forms of maintaining social contact were used for friends and relatives; for example: keeping in touch using video calls.” from the report
Activities during lockdown
The home adapted activities when residents could not go out or receive visits from outside entertainers.
“Activities had been improvised as people were unable to go out during 'lockdown', which is what they liked to do.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How have your infection control, visiting and testing arrangements changed since the inspection in November 2020?
- 02How do you currently support residents to stay in contact with family and friends?
- 03What activities are available now if residents cannot go out or receive outside entertainers?
- 04What are the current ratings for effective, caring, responsive and well-led care?
- 05How do you make sure new residents are admitted safely?
This was an announced thematic review of infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic, and it did not rate the service overall or assess the other four questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 17 December 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.
Every inspection of The Chantry
4 rated inspections over 8 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- June 2023Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2020Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- March 2020Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- May 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2012
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 20 April 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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17 live-in carers within about an hour of Devon
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 £1,270 a week. 15 can care for a couple. 13 years' experience on average.
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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.