What is the Care Home Support Service?

The integrated Care Home Support Service (CHSS) is a multidisciplinary team which consists of specialist nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, healthcare assistants in addition to mental health occupational therapists/nurses. A medical consultant, psychiatrist and psychologist give clinical leadership to the team.

The CHSS team work in partnership with care home staff in all care homes – nursing and residential. Our aim is to support them to improve the care of their residents.

Visiting care homes regularly, we identify and manage unwell residents, working proactively with the care home to plan appropriate care. We focus on prevention and early intervention, while endeavouring to improve quality of life.

In situations where a resident needs an admission to hospital, the CHSS team can assist in liaising with the hospital to ensure a timely discharge back to the home and help support them on their return e.g. providing advice and short term therapy support.

Our physical health nurses role also includes

• Assessment /screen of all new residents
• Signposting to relevant services
• Education and support to care home staff
• Clinical assessment of unwell residents
• Nutritional advice, support with management of weight loss
• Supporting with diagnosis of dementia and initial intervention on management of challenging behaviour
• Falls assessments
• Medication review
• Supporting residents, families and carers in decisions about end of life
• Advice on pressure care

Our therapy team role includes

• Manual handling advice
• Mobility assessments
• Postural management advice
• Seating assessments and advice
• Any other therapy interventions other than longer term rehab

Our mental health team role

Helping with the management of residents with dementia whose behaviour is challenging. Working primarily with care staff helping them implement psycho-social interventions

The CHSS team will work closely with professionals in other existing health care services.

Each resident’s own GP will retain medical responsibility at all times with the team providing additional nursing, therapy and mental health support where appropriate.

Contact the CHSS team

Single Point of Access

Referrals from NHS professionals only

Phone: 01865 903 750

Directly to the CHSS office

Phone: 01865 903 785
Email: chss@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk

Care Home Support Service
Windrush Industrial Park
Burford Road
Witney
Oxfordshire
OX29 7DX

Concerns and complaints

We aim to provide you with a high quality service at all times. However, if you have any concerns, complaints or comments about your experience of our service then please tell a member of the team or contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service on freephone 0800 328 7971.