CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at The Chase
Rated Inadequate: inspectors found the home performing badly and the CQC has taken enforcement action.
What inspectors found, May 2023
The Chase: Rated Requires Improvement; inspectors found safe, kind care and better medicines and checks, but only two areas were assessed.
This was an unannounced inspection on 02 May 2023. One inspector and an Expert by Experience spoke with 12 people and relatives and 5 staff. They reviewed care, medicines, recruitment and management records, and observed care.
The inspectors rated Safe and Well-led as Good. They found medicines were managed safely, risks were assessed, staffing was sufficient, recruitment checks were completed, and infection control arrangements were suitable. People said they felt safe, staff were kind, and people were supported to remain independent.
The overall rating remains Requires Improvement. The home had been rated Requires Improvement at the previous inspection, but inspectors found enough improvement for the provider to no longer be in breach of regulations. This inspection did not rate Effective, Caring or Responsive.
Safer medicines
Medicines records were complete, storage temperatures were checked, and guidance for medicines given when needed had improved.
“Medicines were managed safely. The name and strength of medicines no longer required was now recorded along with the quantity and person they were prescribed to, in line with national guidelines.” from the report
Enough staff
Inspectors found there were enough staff and that people received help promptly and at their own pace.
“Staff responded quickly when people asked for assistance and people were supported at their own pace.” from the report
Calm, person-centred culture
People were described as being at the centre of the service. Staff supported people to remain as independent as possible.
“The atmosphere was calm and people were at the centre of everything that happened.” from the report
Improved oversight
Audits had improved and action was taken when they identified shortfalls. Later checks showed the problems had not continued.
“Action had been planned to address any shortfalls found. This had been completed and the following months audits showed the shortfalls had not continued.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What further improvements are planned to address the overall Requires Improvement rating?
- 02How will you keep checking that medicines records remain complete and accurate?
- 03What is the timetable for completing staff competency assessments for insulin administration?
- 04How will you show families that improvements found in audits are being maintained?
- 05When will Effective, Caring and Responsive be assessed or rated?
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 19 May 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, April 2022
The Chase was rated Requires Improvement; care and leadership had improved, but medicines records and checks were still unsafe.
This was an unannounced focused inspection on 6 April 2022. Inspectors spoke with four people, six relatives and six staff. They reviewed care records, medicines records, recruitment files and management audits.
The home had improved since its previous Inadequate rating. People said they felt safe, risks were assessed, infection controls were in place and there were enough staff. Safeguarding, recruitment and risk management had improved.
Medicines were not always managed safely. Some records were incomplete, including records for medicines no longer needed and medicine storage temperatures. The home's audits had not found these problems.
The overall rating and the ratings for Safe and Well-led were Requires Improvement. The home had been in Special Measures but was no longer rated Inadequate and was no longer in Special Measures.
People felt safe
People said they felt safe and could raise concerns with staff and the manager. Safeguarding concerns were shared with the local authority.
“People told us they felt safe living at The Chase.” from the report
Risk management improved
Risks such as falls, diabetes and pressure ulcers were assessed and acted on. Accidents and incidents were reviewed for patterns and further action.
“Risks to people had been assessed and reviewed and action had been taken to mitigate risks.” from the report
Enough staff
People and relatives said there were enough staff, and inspectors observed staff had time to support people and build relationships.
“People and relatives told us there were always enough staff on duty to offer them the care they needed.” from the report
More open leadership
People, relatives and staff were asked for their views, and feedback was used to make changes. Staff said managers were approachable and listened.
“People, their relatives and staff were asked for their views and these were used to improve the service.” from the report
Better partnership working
The home worked more closely with health and social care professionals. Staff followed professional advice and received relevant training.
“At this inspection they told us this had changed, and staff now followed their advice and guidance.” from the report
Incomplete medicines records
seriousRecords for some medicines no longer needed did not include all the required details. This meant stock levels could not be checked properly.
“The name and strength of some medicines no longer required was not recorded along with the quantity and person they were prescribed to.” from the report
Medicine temperature records
seriousComplete records were not kept for the medicine room and fridge temperatures. The manager could not be sure the action taken had worked consistently.
“Complete records of the temperature of the medicines room and fridge had not been maintained.” from the report
Audits missed problems
seriousMedicine audits had not identified the shortfalls inspectors found. The provider remained in breach because its systems did not reliably monitor and improve safety.
“Checks and audits completed had not identified the shortfalls we found in relation to medicines.” from the report
- 01How are medicines no longer needed recorded, stored and returned, and who checks the records?
- 02How are medicine room and fridge temperatures recorded each day, and what happens when a reading is missed or outside the recommended range?
- 03What changes have been made since this inspection to make sure medicines audits identify problems?
- 04How will you show us that the home's improvement plan has been completed and remains effective?
- 05How are risks, health professional advice and new care plan information shared with staff at handover?
This was an unannounced focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only; the other ratings were carried forward from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 29 April 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.
Every inspection of The Chase
8 rated inspections over 7 years: the service has held its Requires improvement rating throughout.
- May 2023Requires improvementcurrent ratingstayed Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Good
- April 2022Requires improvementup from InadequateSafe: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- December 2021Inadequatedown from Requires improvementSafe: InadequateWell-led: Inadequate
- April 2020Requires improvementup from InadequateSafe: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- October 2019Inadequatedown from Requires improvementSafe: InadequateEffective: InadequateCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Inadequate
- November 2018Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- August 2017Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- June 2016Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- October 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 19 January 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 Kent
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. 33 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“Always on time and with a lovely smile for my mum. Theresa is kind and sensitive to my mum's needs.”
“Irene was a very kind and empathetic carer who knew just the right words to say to put a smile on my face.”
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