CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Chestnut Lodge
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, April 2021
Chestnut Lodge was inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured about infection prevention and control measures.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 16 March 2021. It looked at how the home prepared for and managed infection risks during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Inspectors found the home clean and free from clutter. They were assured about visiting arrangements, PPE, testing, admissions, social distancing, outbreak planning and the infection control policy.
The home was inspected but not rated overall, and the Safe question was also inspected but not rated. This report does not give ratings for the other four questions.
Clean environment
The home was clean and free from clutter, with current daily cleaning schedules and a sanitising machine.
“The service was free from clutter and clean.” from the report
Visiting arrangements
The home had a visiting pod, used testing and PPE arrangements, and offered video calls, email and telephone contact.
“The service provided safe and effective ways for people to visit their relatives during the Covid-19 pandemic.” from the report
Testing and outbreak planning
Staff and residents took part in regular Covid-19 testing. The home also had arrangements for isolation and managing a possible outbreak.
“The service had a contingency plan for the isolation of people in the event of a Covid-19 outbreak.” from the report
Infection control checks
The infection control policy and audits were current, and inspectors said shortfalls found in audits were dealt with immediately.
“IPC audits were carried out monthly and included extra measures the home had put in place due to Covid-19.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What infection prevention and control measures are in place now?
- 02How often are infection control audits carried out, and how are any shortfalls dealt with?
- 03How would you manage an outbreak, including isolation arrangements for residents?
- 04What are the current arrangements for visits, PPE and testing?
- 05How do you manage admissions from other health or social care services safely?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control during the Covid-19 pandemic; it did not assess the other four key questions and did not provide an overall rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 1 April 2021 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
What inspectors found, March 2019
Chestnut Lodge was rated Good overall; inspectors found kind, safe and well-organised care, but identified a safeguarding recording and referral failure.
This was a planned inspection on 4 February 2019. One inspector spoke with people, relatives, staff and a community nurse. They reviewed care files, medicine records, staff files, audits, complaints and meeting records, and observed the building and staff practice.
The home was caring and responsive. People said staff were kind, respected their choices and supported their privacy and independence. Care plans reflected people's needs, preferences, cultural and spiritual choices. People also had access to activities, community links and healthcare.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. This was the same overall rating as the previous inspection on 28 September 2016. Inspectors did find that two incidents involving unexplained bruising had not been referred under the local safeguarding process, but action was taken during the inspection.
Kind and respectful care
People spoke positively about the care and said they were not rushed. Inspectors observed warm conversations and found that privacy, dignity and independence were respected.
“People were supported and treated with dignity and respect; and involved as partners in their care.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans included people's routines, choices, communication needs and cultural and spiritual needs. Staff were observed following these plans.
“People had care plans which reflected their personal care needs and choices, were understood by staff and reviewed at least monthly.” from the report
Safe medicines and staffing
Medicines were ordered, stored, given and disposed of safely. Staff recruitment checks were completed and staffing levels were adjusted to people's needs.
“People had their medicines ordered, stored, administered and disposed of safely.” from the report
Visible leadership and improvement
The manager and deputy worked alongside the care team. Regular audits, surveys and meetings helped identify changes, including improvements to bathroom facilities.
“The home had a small staff team and the registered manager and deputy provided visible leadership working alongside the care team.” from the report
Safeguarding referrals
seriousTwo recent incidents involving unexplained bruising had not been referred through the local safeguarding process. The deputy manager made a referral during the inspection and changed the audit tool to reduce the chance of this happening again.
“However, we read two recent incidents were a person had unexplained bruising and the local safeguarding protocol had not been followed.” from the report
- 01What changes were made after the two unexplained bruising incidents, and how are safeguarding referrals now checked?
- 02What is the current position on the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards applications mentioned in the report?
- 03If a resident's mobility deteriorates, how would you manage a room on the first floor and a possible move to the ground floor?
- 04How are residents and families involved in keeping care plans, daily routines and cultural or spiritual preferences up to date?
- 05What improvements have been made through the audits, family surveys and meetings since this inspection?
This was a planned inspection covering the overall service and all five question areas, including both the premises and the care provided. This explanation was written from the published report of 1 March 2019 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
Every inspection of Chestnut Lodge
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- April 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- March 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 5 January 2011.
Ratings and report dates from the Care Quality Commission, Open Government Licence v3.0. A home can also be visited without a new rating being published, so the timeline shows published inspections.
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15 live-in carers within about an hour of Dorset
These are self-employed carers on PrimeCarers, the introductory agency that runs this directory. Each has a profile with their own rates and reviews from families, and you choose who to talk to.
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