We carried out a review of the data available to us about Chestnuts Residential Care Home (Weymouth) on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Chestnuts Residential Care Home (Weymouth), you can give feedback on this service.
We found the following examples of good practice.
Measures were in place to prevent the spread of infection by visitors to the service. Visitors were required to answer questions about their health to screen for Covid-19 symptoms and their temperature was taken on arrival. A sealed door with a large glass panel had been installed at the front of the property to enable safer window visits.
People were supported to understand the measures that were in place regarding infection prevention and control. There were posters offering reassurance about the use of PPE.
People were supported to stay in touch with their loved ones in ways that were meaningful to them. Staff understood the impact the isolation could have on people and sought to support people’s emotional wellbeing. Particular care was taken to support people who needed to quarantine in their room as part of the home’s admission process. Senior staff liaised with other agencies to reduce risks when quarantining was not possible due to people’s mental health.
Staff were committed to keeping people safe. They had undertaken additional training and understood the importance of wearing appropriate PPE. There were sufficient stocks available including masks, gloves, aprons and hand sanitiser. Sanitisation and PPE stations were placed around the building and this enabled easy access.
During our inspection the senior team reviewed where staff members took their breaks to reduce the risk of transmission of infection within the home.
Additional cleaning measures were in place in line with good practice guidance. The home was clean during our visit and decorative work was ongoing to support effective cleaning.
Infection prevention and control audits took place and action plans were developed to follow up on any required actions. This ensured the registered manager had effective oversight of infection control measures. Staff had the opportunity to discuss IPC at every supervision and this enabled them to clarify queries and make suggestions.
Regular COVID testing was carried out at the service for both staff and people living there, and contingency plans were in place in the event of any outbreak of Covid-19 or other emergency.
Further information is in the detailed findings below.
Chestnuts Residential Home is a care home which is registered to provide care and accommodation to up to 13 people. The home specialises in the care of older people. At the time of the inspection there were 11 people living at the home.
The house is an adapted residential building with accommodation arranged over two floors. There is a stair lift to enable people to access all areas.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People lived in a home that was well led by a registered manager committed to promoting the ethos of the home within a framework of robust monitoring and developments. There were systems in place to monitor standards and plan improvements. People’s and staff’s views were listened to and used to influence changes and improvements.
People felt safe at the home and with the staff who supported them. The staff understood their responsibilities and how to protect people from abuse. There were adequate numbers of staff to meet people’s needs and keep them safe.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. Staff respected people’s choices and preferences.
People were cared for by staff who knew them well and were kind and compassionate. Staff were happy in their jobs and wanted to provide the best care they could. People had built strong relationships with staff and appreciated the familiarity they had.
People received care and support in a way that met their personal needs and enabled them to follow their own routines, interests and beliefs.
There were organised activities, informal chatter and entertainment which provided people with social stimulation. People were supported to maintain contact with friends and family members.
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was good (published 4 July 2017). Since this rating was awarded the registered provider of the service has changed. We have used the previous rating to inform our planning and decisions at this inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on our published guidance for inspecting new providers.
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.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk