The Chestnuts Care Home

Updated 11 May 2023

TThe inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by 2 inspectors.

Service and service type

The Chestnuts Care Home is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. The Chestnuts Care Home is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 9 people who lived in the service. We observed the lunchtime meal and planned afternoon activity. We talked with 4 members of staff including the registered manager, deputy manager, a carer, and an activity coordinator. We also spoke with a visiting hairdresser and received feedback from 3 health care professionals and a relative.

We reviewed a range of records. This included 3 people’s care records and medication records. We looked at 3 staff files in relation to recruitment. We also looked at staff training and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service were reviewed including accidents and incidents and quality checks and audits.

Updated 11 May 2023

About the service

The Chestnuts Care Home is a residential care home providing personal care and accommodation for up to 28 older people, including people living with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 28 people using the service.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People and relatives told us the service proved personalised care. A relative sent us a compliment about the care provided and commented, ‘Mum has been looked after like a queen. She has her hair styled every week and always looks like she’s ready for a night out on the town. From a frail lady who had lost her sense of humour and reason to live, we now have a glowing, smiling, happy mum again. Mum has no interest in going home… The Chestnuts is her home’.

Staff were highly motivated to provide kind, sensitive and compassionate care. Comments from people and relatives included, “The staff are all wonderful to me”; “It is calm and as friendly as it is today as every day” ; and ”The staff are all caring and professional and mum is happy with the environment and service provided. As always, I could not wish for a better place for mum to live than The Chestnuts.”

The registered manager was a strong visible presence at the service and promoted a positive culture where people and staff were involved in the running of the service. One person told us, “The manager is a dream. We only have to ask and they do it.” Another person told us, “They are the best. They are my favourite.”

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People had access to health care support and the service worked jointly with health care professionals to ensure their health needs were met. People received their medicines as prescribed. A healthcare professional told us, “We collaborate well together. Staff always act quickly to contact us rather than leave things. The manager is brilliant and senior staff definitely caring.”

Additional staff were available ensure they had time to sit and talk with people as well as support them with their personal care needs. Staff were provided with suitable training to ensure their skills and knowledge were up to date. Staff felt well supported by the management team, which helped them to provide person-centred care.

People told us and relatives had feedback to the service that people were safe and well-cared for. One person told us, “Oh yes the staff are lovely. I feel safe.” A relative had commented, “We can rest at night knowing that our mum is safe and cared for.”

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 26 January 2022 and this is the first inspection. The last rating for the service under the previous provider at the previous premises was Good, published on 27 December 2019.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.