Chestnut Lodge

Updated 1 April 2021

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of CQC’s response to the coronavirus pandemic we are looking at the preparedness of care homes in relation to infection prevention and control. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection control and prevention measures the provider has in place.

This inspection took place on 16 March 2021 and was announced.

Updated 1 April 2021

About the service: Chestnut Lodge is a residential care home that was providing personal care to eight people aged 65 and over at the time of the inspection.

People’s experience of using this service:

People felt safe living at Chestnut Lodge and had their risks assessed and reviewed regularly. Staff understood the actions needed to prevent avoidable harm including the prevention of avoidable infection. Medicines were ordered, stored, administered and disposed of safely by trained staff.

Staff had been recruited safely ensuring they were suitable to work with vulnerable adults and staffing levels responded to the needs of people. People were cared for by staff who had received an induction and had on-going training and support that enabled them to carry out their roles effectively.

Pre-admission assessments had been completed with people and their families and gathered details of people’s needs and choices. This information had been used to create care plans that reflected peoples care needs and lifestyle choices, spiritual and cultural needs and were reviewed regularly and understood and followed by the care team. People received responsive and compassionate end of life care.

Relationships between people and the staff team were positive, kind and caring and people felt involved in decisions about their care. People had their privacy, dignity and independence respected. People had opportunities to be involved in activities both within the home and the local community.

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.

Leadership was visible and the registered manager and deputy worked alongside the care team enabling practice observations, learning and development and teamwork.

Quality assurance systems included an annual survey, monthly audits, a complaints process and regular meetings with people, their families and staff. When improvements were identified actions had been taken appropriately and outcomes shared to aid learning and improve service delivery.

A full description of our findings can be found in the sections below.

Rating at last inspection:

The service was rated ‘Good’ at our last inspection carried out on the 28 September 2016.

Why we inspected:

This was a planned inspection based on previous rating.

Follow up:

We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If any concerning information is received we may inspect sooner.