CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at The Chestnuts
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- There were enough suitably skilled staff, risks were assessed, medicines were managed safely and emergency plans were in place. Staff understood how to protect people from abuse.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff had appropriate induction, training and supervision. People received support with food, healthcare and decision-making under the Mental Capacity Act.
- Caring?
- Good
- People had positive relationships with staff, who respected their privacy and dignity. People were encouraged to make choices, be independent and maintain family relationships.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans reflected people's individual needs, routines and preferences. People had access to activities, local community opportunities and a complaints process that led to action.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home had an experienced management team that people, relatives and staff could approach. Regular checks, handovers and organised records supported consistent care.
What inspectors found, December 2017
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with strong management and no reported breaches.
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection on 4 October 2017. Two inspectors spoke with people living at the home, relatives, staff and visiting professionals. They reviewed care plans, medicines, staff records and quality checks.
The home supported 20 adults with learning disabilities, some also with physical disabilities or sensory impairments. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines arrangements, suitable training, good healthcare support and care that respected people's choices, privacy and independence.
People had individual care plans, activities they enjoyed and links with their local community. Relatives described communication with managers as good, and complaints had been investigated and used to make improvements.
The overall rating was Good, with Good ratings in all five areas. The home was still rated Good, the same as at the previous inspection on 6 July 2015.
Enough staff
Staffing was planned around people's needs, including extra staff for trips, outings and appointments. Inspectors saw that people received care promptly.
“We observed that there were sufficient staff available to meet people's needs promptly and that people did not have to wait for care.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People and relatives described staff as friendly, kind and caring. Staff supported privacy, dignity, independence and contact with family and friends.
“People were supported by kind and caring staff.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans included people's needs, preferred routines, interests and life histories. People were involved in planning and reviewing their care.
“Care plans recorded people's preferred routines and how they liked to spend their time.” from the report
Good activities
People could take part in activities suited to their interests and use local cafés, shops, pubs and restaurants. An activities co-ordinator arranged individual opportunities.
“People had access to activities they enjoyed, such as bowling, ice skating and arts and crafts, and had opportunities to enjoy an active social life.” from the report
Strong management
The management team was described as stable, experienced and accessible. Staff handovers, team meetings and quality checks helped keep care consistent.
“There was a stable and experienced management team that comprised the registered manager, assistant manager and a manager for each of the home's three units.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you assess and support my relative's particular communication, mobility, dietary and healthcare needs?
- 02How are relatives involved in care-plan reviews and decisions about changes in support?
- 03How do you make sure staffing levels are sufficient when people attend trips, outings and appointments?
- 04How are medicines, accidents and incidents checked, and how are any lessons acted on?
- 05How is the electronic care-record system used to monitor whether daily care records are complete and accurate?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five key questions and the overall quality of the home. This explanation was written from the published report of 7 December 2017 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
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- December 2017Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 4 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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77 live-in carers within about an hour of Surrey
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 £1,250 a week. 66 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“Without his support we wouldn't have been able to navigate bringing and keeping Dad at home.”
“Not only has she looked after him beautifully, she has also been great company for him with lively conversation, kindness and humour.”
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.