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  3. Care Home Support Team

Service : Care Home Support Team

  • Service overview
  • Accessing our service
  • Training
  • Resources
  • Contact us and FAQs
  • Related services
  • External support
  • Feedback
Download transcript Care Home Support Team Service Video Transcript
Watch on YouTube

Service overview

Our service is also known as CHST.

We work with care homes to support staff to improve the wellbeing of residents. We can also build your team’s skills and confidence by providing training sessions suited to their needs.

We may also be able to signpost you to other support services.

If you run a care home in Berkshire West (West Berkshire, Reading, or Wokingham), we can also provide a direct patient service for postural management and end-of-life (palliative) support.

Accessing our service

Please contact us directly for support.

Training

Training is provided by our multidisciplinary team. This means staff with a range of specialist skills work together.

Our team includes specialists in:

  • nursing (including end-of-life nursing)
  • occupational therapy
  • physiotherapy
  • speech and language therapy
  • pharmacy
  • dietetics

Download the documents below to learn more about training that we offer. 

If you work in a Berkshire care home and would like to join a training session, please contact us.

Virtual training we offer (CHST) - 2025

Download CHST List Of Virtual Training 2025

File size: 104 KB

pdf

CHST - Summary of service and training

Download CHST - Summary of service and training

File size: 182 KB

pdf

Further training

We can provide targeted and bespoke support to residents and staff with more complex needs over a longer ongoing period.

This can include:

  • development and ongoing support of care home staff champions on key areas like pressure damage, dementia, falls
  • support for care home staff to make appropriate referrals to other services
  • mental health assessments and treatment
  • encouraging person-centred approaches
  • communicating with local hospitals to identify patients admitted from care homes and provide support for a well-timed discharge

Resources

Equipment

Guidelines Insertion Of Slide Sheets And Hoisting Into Chair - CHST service guide

Download Guidelines Insertion Of Slide Sheets And Hoisting Into Chair - CHST service guide

File size: 937 KB

pdf

Komfitilt 3 Vikta - CHST service guide

Download Komfitilt 3 Vikta - CHST service guide

File size: 182 KB

pdf

Seating advice - CHST service guide

Download Seating advice - CHST service guide

File size: 278 KB

pdf

Toto Lateral Turning System - CHST service guide

Download Toto Lateral Turning System - CHST service guide

File size: 165 KB

pdf

Pressure Care Equipment Information Sheet

Download Pressure Care Equipment Information Sheet

File size: 410 KB

pdf

End-of-life care

Eating And Drinking Towards End Of Life

Download Eating And Drinking Towards End Of Life - CHST service guide

File size: 113 KB

pdf

Patient Just In Case (JIC) Medications

Download Patient Just In Case Jic Medications Leaflet - CHST service guide

File size: 135 KB

pdf

Syringe Pumps - CHST service guide

Download Syringe Pumps - CHST service guide

File size: 133 KB

pdf

Posture and contractures

Contracture support

Download Contracture support - CHST service guide

File size: 205 KB

pdf

Postural Care - CPD for Practitioners

Download Postural Care - CPD for Practitioners

File size: 370 KB

pdf

Watch this video to learn more about the risks linked with joint contractures and practical steps you can take to prevent them.

This video was produced by Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust.

Watch on YouTube

Contact us and FAQs

East Berkshire Care Homes

(Bracknell Forest, Slough, Windsor and Maidenhead)

Email: Eastberkscarehometeam@berkshire.nhs.uk

West Berkshire Care Homes

(Reading, West Berkshire and Wokingham Council)

Email: Westcarehomesupport@berkshire.nhs.uk

We can also help you with:

Is there any information for friends, family and carers?

If you’re a family member, carer, or you look after someone, there’s practical, financial, and emotional support available from a range of local communities and national organisations.  

  • Find out more
How do I request an interpreter?

We can provide language translation and interpretation support.

Tell our staff which language you prefer to use, and we will make sure the right communication support is in place for your assessment and treatment. Please let us know as early as possible so we can ensure the appropriate translation or interpreting support is available.

We offer a range of professional services to ensure everyone can understand and be understood:

  • Telephone interpreting
  • Video remote interpreting (VRI)
  • Face‑to‑face interpreting
  • Written translation
  • British Sign Language (BSL) interpreting
  • Learn more
How can I get information in an accessible format?

Anyone with a disability, impairment, or sensory loss has the right to get information in a format that meets their needs.

The Accessible Information Standard (AIS) is a legal requirement for all health and adult social care providers. This means making sure that people who use our services, including carers and families, can understand our information and communicate with us easily.

We can offer information in a range of accessible formats, including:

  • British Sign Language (BSL)
  • Large print
  • Braille
  • Audio
  • Easy read
  • Email
  • Text message
  • Face‑to‑face support with a carer or advocate present

If you need information in any of these formats, please tell a member of our team and we will make sure your communication needs are met.

  • Learn more
Are service dogs allowed at my appointment?

Yes, you are welcome to bring your registered service animal, such as a guide dog, hearing dog, medical alert dog, or other trained assistance dog to your appointment.

These animals are recognised as essential support and are permitted in most areas of our services.

To help us prepare, please let the team know before your appointment if you will be attending with a service animal. This allows us to make sure the environment is safe and comfortable for you, your animal, and other patients.

Please note that service animals may not be able to enter certain restricted clinical areas for safety or infection‑control reasons, but we will always work with you to find an appropriate alternative.

What does it mean to treat our team with respect?

Respect is important.

We will be polite and kind and we expect that you treat our staff in the same way.

Abuse, hate and discrimination against our staff is unacceptable.

We will take strong action against anyone who is verbally, racially, physically, or sexually abusive to them.

This may include contacting the police to prosecute, and stopping future access to our healthcare services.

How do I find my NHS number?

The easiest way to find your NHS number is using the official NHS online service which can be accessed below.

You may also want to read our guidance page for more information about other ways to find your NHS number or what to do if you cannot find yours.

  • Find your NHS number
  • How to find your NHS number

Related services

Palliative Care Service

  • Adults

End of life care focused on pain relief and emotional support for people with serious or life-limiting illnesses and their family.

Palliative Care Service: Go to service

External support

Care Home Digest

The Association of UK Dieticians (BDA) worked with the National Association of Care Catering to develop a guide for care home teams about menu planning and food service.

  • Learn more on the BDA website

Feedback

Your thoughts help us understand what we’re doing well and where we can improve, so we can keep providing the best possible support.

You can use our online forms to share your thoughts.

  • Give feedback
  • Read some of the feedback we have received
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We provide a wide range of physical and mental health services to people of all ages living in Berkshire. We operate from hospitals, health clinics and GP practices, as well as other community settings and in people’s homes.

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