Chestnut House

On this page

• Overview
• Assessing needs
• Delivering evidence-based care and treatment
• How staff, teams and services work together
• Supporting people to live healthier lives
• Monitoring and improving outcomes
• Consent to care and treatment

Effective – this means we looked for evidence that people’s care, treatment and support achieved good outcomes and promoted a good quality of life, based on best available evidence. At our last inspection we rated this key question requires improvement. At this inspection the rating has changed to good. This meant people’s outcomes were consistently good, and people’s feedback confirmed this.

This service scored 71 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

The service made sure people’s care and treatment was effective by assessing and reviewing their health, care, wellbeing and communication needs with them and their families where appropriate. People’s care and treatment reflected their needs. Staff understood people’s individual needs and made sure assessments were up to date.

The service planned and delivered people’s care and treatment with them, including what was important and mattered to them. They did this in line with legislation and current evidence-based good practice and standards. For example, the décor of the home met the needs of people living with dementia. People’s nutritional needs were met. For example, people had access to soft or pureed meals if they needed an altered diet to reduce the risk of choking. Staff ensured people had enough to eat and drink. People told us they enjoyed their meals.

The service worked well across teams and services to support people. They made sure people only needed to tell their story once by sharing their assessment of needs when people moved between different services. Staff said they worked well together as a team and with other professionals. They said communication with colleagues, professionals and with the management team was good. Daily handovers and a communications book were used.

The service supported people to manage their health and wellbeing to maximise their independence, choice and control. The service supported people to live healthier lives and where possible, reduce their future needs for care and support. The home worked well with medical professionals, who told us staff had all the information they requested available, followed any guidance provided and made appropriate, early referrals to them so prompt treatment and support could be provided.

The service routinely monitored people’s care and treatment to continuously improve it. They ensured that outcomes were positive and consistent, and that they met both clinical expectations and the expectations of people themselves. For example, people’s weight and health were monitored and actions taken where risks were identified.

The service told people about their rights around consent and respected these when delivering person-centred care and treatment. However, best interest decisions were not always recorded. This was rectified shortly after our inspection. Staff sought people’s consent before providing support. Staff supported and involved people’s families and carers to make best interest decisions where people did not have capacity to do so. However, these were not always clearly recorded. Changes were made immediately following the inspection to ensure best interest decisions were recorded in care plans and reviewed during people’s 6-monthly review meeting.