Archived: Chestnut Grove Rest Home

Updated 5 December 2018

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, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Chestnut Grove Rest Home is situated in Longton. The service provides accommodation and personal care for up to 12 older people. The home has communal facilities and a secure outside garden.

Before the inspection took place, we spoke with the local authority contracts teams, and Healthwatch. Healthwatch is a national independent champion for people who use healthcare services. We received no information of concern.

We looked at information the provider sent us in the Provider Information Return. This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used this information to help us plan our inspection visit.

As part of the inspection process we reviewed information held upon our database regarding the service. This included notifications submitted by the registered provider relating to incidents, health and safety and safeguarding concerns which affect the health and wellbeing of people. We used this information provided to inform our inspection plan.

This comprehensive inspection took place 15 and 25 October 2018. The first day of the inspection was unannounced.

The inspection was carried out by one inspector. The inspector was supported by an expert-by- experience on the first day of the inspection visit. An expert-by-experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service. The expert by experience had experience in caring for older people.

We spoke with five people who lived at the home, six relatives, two visitors and two health care professionals to seek their views on how the service was managed.

We also spoke with the registered manager, the deputy manager, the maintenance person, the activities coordinator and three members of staff who were responsible for providing care and support to people who lived at the home.

To gather information, we looked at a variety of records. This included care plan records relating to three people who lived at the home and recruitment records of four staff members. We also looked at other information related to the management of the service. This included health and safety certification, policies and procedures, accidents and incidents records and maintenance schedules.

As part of the inspection process we walked around the building to carry out a visual check. We did this to ensure the home was clean, hygienic and a safe place for people to live.

Updated 5 December 2018

Chestnut Grove Rest Home is a residential care home which is registered to provide care and support to 12 older people. The detached home is situated in Lostock Hall.

At our last inspection we rated the service outstanding. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of outstanding and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

At this inspection visit we found the service remained Outstanding.

People continued to receive personalised care which was responsive to individual need. Staff had an excellent understanding of people’s individual needs and life history so care could be provided with support which was individual to them. Services were flexible and people could decide how and when their care was provided.

People, relatives and professionals all agreed the service continued to be exceptionally well managed. Everyone praised the skills of the management team and their ability to provide an exceptional service. Governance was embedded within the service and was based upon good practice guidance.

People, relatives and health professionals told us the care provided was effective and people experienced positive outcomes whilst living at Chestnut Grove Rest Home. Professionals told us they considered the home one of the best in the area.

People continued to receive a highly effective service which was person-centred and put them at the heart of their care. People and relatives told us staff were empathetic and motivated to provide compassionate care. There was a continued emphasis on privacy , dignity and human rights. Relatives praised end of life care provision at the home.

The registered provider was extremely responsive in seeking feedback from people and relatives to ensure people were happy with the service provided.

Links within the local community continued to be a priority. Excellent links had been forged with the local hospice which provided training and support to both staff and people who lived at the home. The home had a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere where visitors were welcomed and encouraged.

People who lived at the home and relatives repeatedly praised the quality and choices of food provided. Healthy eating was promoted.

The registered provider understood the importance of providing holistic health care. People had been supported to effectively manage negative life experiences which had impacted upon their well-being.

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. Consent to care and treatment was actively sought.

Staff turnover was low. Staff at the home said they experienced high levels of job satisfaction and good team morale. They said that as a result staff often went the extra mile.

People and relatives praised the way in which safety and risk was managed within the home. We were repeatedly told by relatives and professionals that people remained safe whilst living at the home.

Systems, processes and practices were embedded to safeguard people from abuse and risk of harm. Good practice guidance had been followed to keep people safe. Staffing levels were continuously reviewed to ensure there were enough staff on duty to provide flexible care.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.