Service : Care Home Support Team
Service overview
We are the Care Home Support Team (CHST), and we help staff in care homes to improve residents’ health and wellbeing.
We offer training and advice to improve your staff's skills and confidence.
If you run a care home in Berkshire West (Reading, Wokingham, West Berkshire), we can also help with posture care and end‑of‑life support.
Please contact us directly for support.
Training
Training is provided by a team of health professionals with a range of specialist skills and knowledge.
Our team includes specialists in:
- nursing, including end-of-life nursing
- occupational therapy
- physiotherapy
- speech and language therapy
- pharmacy
- dietetics
Read our documents 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
File size: 104 KB
CHST - Summary of service and training
File size: 182 KB
Further training
We can provide bespoke support to residents and staff with more complex needs over a longer ongoing period, such as:
- ongoing support for staff champions on subjects like pressure damage, dementia, and falls
- support for staff to make 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 support a well-timed discharge
Resources
Equipment
Guidelines Insertion Of Slide Sheets And Hoisting Into Chair - CHST service guide
Komfitilt 3 Vikta - CHST service guide
File size: 182 KB
Seating advice - CHST service guide
File size: 278 KB
Toto Lateral Turning System - CHST service guide
File size: 165 KB
Pressure Care Equipment Information Sheet
File size: 410 KB
End-of-life care
Eating And Drinking Towards End Of Life
File size: 113 KB
Patient Just In Case (JIC) Medications
Syringe Pumps - CHST service guide
File size: 133 KB
Posture and contractures
Contracture support
File size: 205 KB
Postural Care - CPD for Practitioners
File size: 333 KB
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.
Contact us and FAQs
East Berkshire Care Homes
(Bracknell Forest, Slough, Windsor and Maidenhead)
West Berkshire Care Homes
(Reading, West Berkshire and Wokingham Council)
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.
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
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
- 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.
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.
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 serviceExternal 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.
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.
Use our online form to share your thoughts.

