CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at The Chestnuts Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People's risks, staffing, recruitment, medicines, equipment and infection control were managed safely. The home monitored accidents and falls and used them to update care plans and reduce risks.
- Effective?
- Good
- People had assessments before moving in, and staff had relevant training and support. People received suitable food, health care and support with consent and mental capacity decisions.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff were described and observed as kind, sensitive and compassionate. People were involved in everyday choices, treated with dignity and supported to remain as independent as possible.
- Responsive?
- Good
- The home was exceptionally responsive to people's needs, preferences and worries. It offered a wide range of activities, adapted communication support and responded to feedback and complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The management team was visible, approachable and focused on person-centred care. People, relatives and staff were involved in running the home, although managers identified quality assurance as an area to strengthen.
What inspectors found, May 2023
Rated Good; inspectors found kind, personalised care, with some quality checks still being strengthened.
This was an unannounced inspection on 15 March 2023. Two inspectors spoke with people, staff, a relative and health professionals. They observed a meal and an activity, and checked care, medicines, staff recruitment, training and management records.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. People were described as safe, well cared for and involved in decisions. Staff were seen giving calm, respectful and compassionate support.
The home provided personalised care for 28 older people, including people living with dementia. Inspectors found good activities, access to health professionals, safe medicines systems and a strong focus on dignity and independence.
Kind and compassionate staff
Inspectors found staff were highly motivated and built strong, caring relationships with people. People and relatives consistently praised the staff team.
“Staff were highly motivated to provide kind, sensitive and compassionate care.” from the report
Personalised support
Care was adapted to people's preferences, routines, communication needs and anxieties. Extra staff time was provided for sitting and talking with people.
“People and relatives told us the service proved personalised care.” from the report
Meaningful activities
The home offered varied activities and responded to individual requests. People could take part in creative, social, faith-based and community activities.
“The activity staff developed a comprehensive programme of activities to stimulate people's physical, social and emotional needs.” from the report
Good leadership
The registered manager was a visible presence and staff felt listened to and supported. People, relatives and staff were consulted about the service.
“The registered manager was a strong visible presence at the service and promoted a positive culture where people and staff were involved in the running of the service.” from the report
Safe care and health support
Inspectors found good systems for managing risks, medicines and infection control. The home worked with health professionals and people received medicines as prescribed.
“People had access to health care support and the service worked jointly with health care professionals to ensure their health needs were met.” from the report
Quality checks being strengthened
minorThe management team said quality assurance could be stronger. They had obtained additional tools and had started expanding the medicines audit.
“The management team had identified that quality assurance was an area that could be strengthened further” from the report
Survey results still to be reviewed
minorThe home had received 15 relative and friend survey responses, but the manager had not yet collated and summarised the results or addressed possible improvements.
“The registered manager planned to collate and summarise the results and address any areas for improvement once all responses had been received.” from the report
- 01What changes have been made to quality assurance since the inspection?
- 02How has the scope of the medicines audit been expanded, and what did the latest audit show?
- 03Which dementia-friendly changes have been put into practice since the inspection?
- 04What did the completed relatives' survey show, and what improvements followed?
- 05How would you support my relative's individual interests, communication needs and periods of anxiety?
This was the first inspection of the newly registered service and covered all five key questions, including infection prevention and control; the previous provider at the former premises was rated Good in 2019. This explanation was written from the published report of 11 May 2023 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 The Chestnuts Care Home
3 rated inspections over 6 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- May 2023Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2017GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2022
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 24 January 2022.
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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39 live-in carers within about an hour of Kent
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.
Most charge £980 to £1,260 a week. 33 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“Always on time and with a lovely smile for my mum. Theresa is kind and sensitive to my mum's needs.”
“Irene was a very kind and empathetic carer who knew just the right words to say to put a smile on my face.”
Every carer has had an enhanced DBS check in the last 18 months, ID and right-to-work checks and an online interview. Their skills and training are for you to check with them. Carers set their own rates, and who is free changes week to week.