This inspection took place on the 25 and 26 September 2018 and was unannounced. This was the first inspection of this service since it was registered with its current provider.

Chestnut Court Care Home is a care home. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. This service is a purpose-built care home spread over three floors, each floor operates as an independent unit. The service provides support with nursing and personal care to older people, many of whom are living with dementia. The service is registered to provide support to a maximum of 62 people and 59 people were using it at the time of our inspection.

The service had a registered manager in place. 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.

There were enough staff working at the service to meet people’s needs and robust staff recruitment procedures were in place. Appropriate safeguarding procedures were in place and safeguarding allegations were managed appropriately. Risk assessments provided information about how to support people in a safe manner. Procedures were in place to reduce the risk of the spread of infection. Medicines were managed in a safe manner. Steps had been taken to ensure the physical environment was safe. Lessons were learnt when accidents and incidents occurred.

People’s needs were assessed before they started using the service to determine if those needs could be met. Staff received on-going training to support them in their role and undertook induction training on commencing work at the service. People were able to make choices for themselves and the service operated within the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. People told us they enjoyed the food and that they had enough to eat. People were supported to access relevant health care professionals.

People told us they were treated with respect and that staff were caring. Staff had a good understanding of how to promote people’s privacy, independence and dignity. Confidentiality was respected and records were held securely.

Care plans were in place which set out how to meet people’s individual needs. Care plans were subject to regular review. People were supported to engage in various activities. The service had a complaints procedure in place and people knew how to make a complaint. End of life care was managed in an appropriate way.

Staff and people spoke positively about the senior staff at the service. Quality assurance and monitoring systems were in place which included seeking the views of people who used the service. The service worked with other agencies to develop good practice.