Background to this inspection
Updated
27 July 2022
The 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
This inspection was undertaken by one inspector.
Service and service type
The Chestnuts is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. The Chestnuts does not provide nursing care.
The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. 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.
Notice of inspection
We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because the service is small and people are often out and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us.
What we did before inspection
We reviewed information we held about the provider including statutory notifications received about key events that occurred at the service. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with three people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. Three people at the service were able to communicate verbally with us. The other people using the service were unable to communicate with us verbally, however, we observed their interactions at the home and with the staff to help understand their experiences of living at the service.
We spoke with three members of staff including the registered manager and two support workers.
We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records. We looked at staff team’s training records. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.
Updated
27 July 2022
We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.
About the service
The Chestnuts is a residential care home providing personal care to five people at the time of the inspection. The service was at full occupancy. People using this service have a learning disability and/or autism.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Right Support
¿ Staff supported people to have the maximum possible choice, control and independence and they had control over their own lives. One person told us they chose to live at the service and that the support from staff had “given me my life back. I’m very happy here.”
¿ Staff focused on people’s strengths and promoted what they could do, so people had a fulfilling and meaningful everyday life.
¿ People were supported by staff to pursue their interests.
¿ Staff supported people to take part in activities and pursue their interests in the local area.
¿ Staff supported people to make decisions following best practice in decision-making. Staff communicated with people in ways that met their needs.
Right Care
¿ The service had enough appropriately skilled staff to meet people’s needs and keep them safe.
¿ People’s care, treatment and support plans reflected their range of needs and this promoted their wellbeing and enjoyment of life.
¿ People received care that supported their needs and aspirations, was focused on their quality of life, and followed best practice. One person told us, “I’m very able and independent.”
Right culture
¿ People received good quality care, support and treatment because trained staff and specialists could meet their needs and wishes.
¿ Staff placed people’s wishes, needs and rights at the heart of everything they did.
¿ People and those important to them were involved in planning their care.
¿ Staff evaluated the quality of support provided to people, involving the person, their families and other professionals as appropriate.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Why we inspected
We undertook this focused inspection to check they had followed their action plan and to check whether they were now meeting legal requirements. We also assessed whether the service was applying the principles of right support, right care, right culture. This report only covers our findings in relation to the key questions safe, effective and well-led which contain those requirements.
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.
For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating. The overall rating for the service remains requires improvement. This is based on the findings at this inspection.
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for The Chestnuts on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.