27 April 2016
During a routine inspection
The service had a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
We inspected Chestnut Court on 27 and 28 April 2016. This was an unannounced inspection. At this inspection we found four breaches of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (regulated activities) Regulations 2014 regarding, medicines management, staffing levels and supporting staff. Full information about CQC’s regulatory response to any concerns found during inspections is added to reports after any representations and appeals have been concluded.
People were not safe at the service. There were poor arrangements for managing medicines and there were not enough staff available to meet people’s needs and keep them safe. Risk assessments did not always cover all areas of risk relating to people to ensure their risks were minimised and managed.
Staff did not always receive up to date training, supervision and appraisal. Staff did not always treat people with respect and dignity. Peoples care plans were not always regularly reviewed. There was a lack of activities at the service for people to take part in. There was poor record keeping and quality monitoring tools used by the service did not identify issues of safety and quality. Staff had mixed views about the staff culture and management team.
People and their relatives told us they felt safe using the service. Staff knew how to report safeguarding concerns. There were effective and up to date systems in place to maintain the safety of the premises and equipment. We found recruitment checks were in place to ensure new staff were suitable to work at the service.
Appropriate applications for Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards had been made and authorised. People using the service had access to healthcare professionals as required to meet their needs.
Staff knew people they were supporting. People using the service and their relatives told us the service was caring. Staff respected people’s privacy and encouraged independence. People and their relatives knew how to make a complaint. The service enabled people to maintain links with their culture and religious practices.