Chestnut Gardens Care Home

On this page

• Overview
• Learning culture
• Safe systems, pathways and transitions
• Safeguarding
• Involving people to manage risks
• Safe environments
• Safe and effective staffing
• Infection prevention and control
• Medicines optimisation

Systems were in place to protect people from the risk of abuse or harm. Staff had been trained to safeguard people from abuse and to take appropriate action to protect people when needed. Staff managed identified risks to people to keep them safe from injury or harm. Safety events and incidents were investigated and lessons learnt were used to improve safety at the service. There were enough staff to support people and meet their needs. Staff received relevant and regular training to meet people’s needs. They were encouraged through supervision to continuously learn, develop and improve their working practices. Recruitment checks were undertaken on staff to make sure they were suitable to support people. People were supported to live in a safe environment, which was regularly checked and maintained to ensure risk to people was minimised. The premises was clean, tidy and hygienic. Staff followed current infection control and hygiene practice to reduce the risk of infections. People received timely support with their medicines and these were administered as prescribed.

This service scored 75 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

People’s safety and wellbeing was a priority. Safety events and incidents were fully investigated and learning from these was used to improve staff working practices and reduce further risk to people’s safety.

Staff understood when and how to report safety events and incidents and took action, when required, to reduce further risk to people’s safety. The registered manager promoted a culture of openness and honesty at the service. They told us, “If things are going wrong I take personal responsibility. We have lessons learnt for all accidents and incidents and this allows us to reflect on what we need to do better.”

Systems were in place to support prompt reporting and investigation of safety events and incidents. Learning from these was used to support staff to continually improve their practice and provide safe, high quality care to people.

People’s safety was managed well when they first started using the service. Information was obtained about people’s individual needs and risks to their safety and used to ensure people received safe and appropriate care and support as soon as they started using the service.

Senior staff made sure people, and others involved in their care, were involved in assessments and planning of their care and support, to aid a smooth and safe transition when they started to use the service. The registered manager told us, “We assess the risks to people before they come in so we can be prepared and ready to be able to mitigate these, for example, making sure you have the right equipment in place before people come in. And we make sure the skillset is in place in terms of the staff team.” Staff told us they had a good understanding of people’s needs as soon as they moved in due to the thoroughness of the assessment process which gave them the information they needed to provide safe and appropriate care and support to people.

The service worked with partners to establish and maintain safe systems of care. Health and social care professionals working with the service, spoke positively about their experiences of working with the staff team. They confirmed that safe systems were in place for monitoring and maintaining people’s care needs. They also confirmed that information was recorded and shared with them as needed and care staff were knowledgeable about people’s needs. One professional told us staff were able to answer their questions about people’s needs and could remember details about their care.

Arrangements were in place to obtain information about people, their individual needs and risks to their safety to ensure people experienced safe and appropriate care as soon as they started using the service. People, and others involved in their care, were involved in this process which gave senior staff a detailed overview of people’s needs and safety risks and how these needed to be managed.

People were supported to live in an environment where they were protected from the risk of abuse, neglect, bullying or harassment. One person told us, “I feel safe. I always have someone to ask if I am troubled and everyone here from the handyman to nurses and the manager are helpful.” Another person said, “There is always someone around if you need them. If I didn’t feel safe I would talk to any of the staff.” Another person told us, “I do feel very safe and if I was worried I could talk to any of them.”

Staff knew how to safeguard people and received relevant training and support to do so. The registered manager understood their responsibility to work in line with the service’s policy and procedure for safeguarding people. This included making timely referrals and working proactively with agencies to ensure people were safeguarded from further risk.

People were comfortable and at ease with staff. People did not hesitate to approach staff and ask for their support when they needed this. Staff were friendly, yet respectful, and interested in people’s wellbeing, asking how people were and offering help if people needed this. Staff knew people well and were alert to any changes that might indicate people needed reassurance to reduce any anxiety or discomfort they might be experiencing.

Systems were in place to help staff identify and report safeguarding concerns to the relevant persons and agencies. Records showed the service worked proactively with the relevant agencies when a concern was raised and senior staff took appropriate action to safeguard people from further risk, when this was required.

Risks to people were managed well. People told us they felt safe and supported to do the things that mattered to them. One person told us, “[Staff] observe and think of the safest way for us to do what we want.” Another person said, “They let us do what we want within limits, for example, I do laps of the garden alone to keep fit but if I were to go out alone to walk I feel sure they would want someone with me.”

Staff were well informed about risks to people and how these should be managed to keep people safe. Staff told us information about risks to people was easily accessible and helped them to take the appropriate action needed to keep people safe at the service.

People moved freely around the service and spent their time as they wished, with no unnecessary restrictions. Staff were aware of where people were and remained present and available in case people required their assistance.

Systems were in place to ensure risks to people were continually assessed, monitored and reviewed. People’s care records contained information and guidance for staff on how identified risks should be managed to keep people safe from injury or harm.

People were supported to live in a safe environment, which was regularly checked, monitored and maintained to ensure risk to people was minimised. One person told us, “I am able to be mobile with my frame and I am aware that an eye is being kept, which is very reassuring.”

Staff understood how the environment and equipment could pose risks to people’s safety. They knew how to minimise these risks to keep people safe. Staff told us they had been trained to use equipment to support people and there was enough equipment available to support people with their needs.

The layout of the home supported people to move around freely. The environment was clean, tidy and free from slip or trip hazards. Grab rails were placed at an appropriate height around the home. Staff were confident using equipment when supporting people.

Safety systems and equipment used at the service were maintained and serviced at regular intervals. Senior staff undertook health and safety checks of the premises at regular intervals. Prompt action was taken to address any safety concerns identified through checks. This helped to ensure the environment, and equipment used, remained in good order and safe for use.

People were supported by a consistent and experienced staff team who knew them well. People felt there were enough staff to meet their needs and they didn’t have to wait long for assistance if this was needed. One person told us, “Well I never have to wait.” People told us staff were well trained and knew how to meet their needs. One person said, “I know they have training days. I think they are well trained to help us.”

Staff received relevant and regular training to support them in their roles. Staff told us when they first started to work at the service they were provided with a thorough induction which equipped them with the skills and knowledge they needed to care for and support people. Staff were encouraged to continuously learn and improve in their roles. Staff told us they were well supported through supervision and there were opportunities to progress their careers if they wanted this. The registered manager told us staffing levels at the service were reviewed regularly to make sure there were always enough staff to meet people’s needs. Staff told us they had sufficient time to undertake their duties.

Staff were present, available and provided care and support to people when they needed this. People did not wait long to receive care and support from staff. Staff were observant when people were moving around and made sure people remained safe at all times.

The provider had effective processes in place to ensure suitable staff were recruited to the service. Records showed the provider conducted pre-employment checks before hiring staff. These included a check of their right to work in the UK, two references from previous employers and criminal record checks. There were enough staff in place to support people. Staff attendance was planned in advance and rotas were devised to ensure they were deployed appropriately, where needed. Staff received an effective induction before starting work and completed a probation period before being signed off. Thereafter, records showed staff received regular training and supervisions of their performance. The provider had a clear disciplinary policy and procedure in place to support their management of poor performance if needed.

People were supported to live in a clean, hygienic environment and infection risks were managed well. One person told us, “It is very clean and comfortable. Everything looks well cared for.” Another person said, “It is a beautiful place to live and always clean.”

Staff received relevant training and knew the processes to follow to minimise the risk and spread of infection. The registered manager told us staff competency in managing infection risks was checked at regular intervals and staff were provided additional support if this was needed to help them manage risks better. They said, “We have reassessed staff last month on their competency and this was positive. We identified one person who was not very confident and we have worked with them and they understand procedures better.”

The environment was clean and hygienic. Staff wore appropriate PPE when this was required. Handwashing guidance was displayed to prompt good hand hygiene practice. Bathrooms and toilets had hand wash, hand towels and sanitiser readily available to support this practice. Food preparation areas were clean and clear. Food in the fridges, freezers and dry goods cupboard was in date, clearly labelled and stored appropriately.

Arrangements were in place to manage infection risks. All staff had completed infection prevention and control and basic food hygiene training. There were sufficient supplies of PPE for staff to help them minimise infection risks. Staff maintained cleaning and food safety records to provide a clear audit trail of measures taken to reduce infection risks. The provider’s infection prevention and control policy was current and reflected national guidance.

People received their medicines safely and as prescribed. One person told us, “I don’t have many, but they are at the same time every day.” Another person said, “They are at the same time each day.”

Staff received relevant training and understood the processes to follow to support people with their medicines, including accurate recording of medicines administered. The registered manager told us there were regular checks of staff’s practice to make sure medicines were administered and managed safely. They said, “We do a medication competency assessment on all staff and they have to complete [pharmacy provider] training as well.”

There were regular audits of medicines at the service. This included checks of staff’s practice to ensure they remained competent and safe to administer and manage medicines. Medicines stocks, balances and records showed people consistently received the medicines prescribed to them. Senior staff undertook weekly checks on people that administered their own medicines. This was to ensure people remained safe and confident to administer their own medicines and identify any additional support they might need.