A Chesham care home was found in need of improvement in key areas by the care quality inspectors.

Chesham Bois Manor, a residential care home with 35 elderly people living at the converted flint stone manor house on Amersham Road, was visited by Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspectors unannounced on June 21 and 22.

The visit followed an earlier inspection in November last year, when the care home was rated inadequate and put in special measures - meaning the service had to improve by certain date or risk losing their licence.

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While the service is no longer in special measures, safety, effectiveness and how well the service is led were rated ‘requires improvement’ at the latest inspection.

Although safety at the home was no longer ‘inadequate’, further improvements were required to risk management, which was addressed, the inspector said.

Chesham Bois Manor is provided and run by B & M Investments Limited. 

The report said: “In records viewed we saw a person who was a choking risk was offered ice lollies. This had been identified as a risk by the service, was addressed and staff informed. However, the risk assessment was not updated to reflect the risk.”

CQC found that sufficient staff were provided, and with new recruitment of staff the use of agency staff had reduced, providing better continuity of care for the residents.

However, one relative said: “There are no activities happening at the moment and this has been a weakness in the home for quite a long time."

The home had recruited a second engagement lead staff member, which they hoped would lead to improved activities, the report said.

Some people felt there wasn’t enough staff, especially at mealtimes and weekends, while others felt staff was on hand when necessary.

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One person said: “Staff are rushed off their feet.”

At care homes and hospitals, people can be legally deprived of their liberty through the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and procedures known as Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS).

During the November 2021 inspection, the care home was “not working to the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005.”

Not enough improvement has been made in terms of legal authorisations for deprivation of a person’s liberty, and  “the provider was still in breach of regulation 1 [Need for consent],” CQC said.

A person had contradictory details about their food and drink consistency to mitigate choking, and training records were not maintained properly and information filed in a timely manner.

Mental capacity assessments were not “consistently completed for everyone” despite staff training in mental capacity law, the inspection found.

A spokesperson from B&M Care said: “As a provider we are actively working with both CQC and Buckinghamshire County Council to improve our service.

“We recognise the concerns raised by CQC and on the day of the inspection we took Immediate action. Continuing from the inspection, robust measures and been put in place to ensure sustainability and effective leadership improvements have been taken.

“We will continue to work closely with all regulators to improve the service. B&M are committed to maintaining the trust and confidence of residents and families in Chesham Bois Manor, and us a quality care provider.”