Welcome House - The Chestnuts, Rochester
CQC Inspection Breakdown
| Safe | Inadequate |
| Effective | Requires improvement |
| Caring | Inadequate |
| Responsive | Requires improvement |
| Well-led | Inadequate |
About Welcome House - The Chestnuts
We carried out this inspection to Welcome House – The Chestnuts on 12 August and 27 August 2025 as the registered manager was not available on our first day of inspection. Welcome House – The Chestnuts is a care home providing personal care and accommodation for up to 15 people with a mental health diagnosis. At the time of our inspection, 14 people were living at the service, all of whom required the regulated activity of personal care.
What residents and families say
People told us staff were kind towards them, however they felt they did not always have the opportunity to go out when they wished to, particularly in the evening or participate in and learn day to day skills, such as baking or cooking.
Source: CQC inspection report
Specialisms
About Welcome House - The Chestnuts
Serving the Rochester, Medway community, Welcome House - The Chestnuts is a registered residential care home committed to delivering thoughtful, person-centred care. The home is operated by Toqeer Aslam and can accommodate up to 15 residents. Following their most recent inspection on 25/09/2025, the Care Quality Commission rated Welcome House - The Chestnuts as Inadequate. Across the five inspection categories, the home scored Requires Improvement for Effective and Responsive; Inadequate for Safe and Caring and Well-led. The home specialises in supporting people with mental health conditions. The service supports mental health. The ME1 postcode area has 14 registered care homes with a combined 425 beds — so there are options to compare in the local area.
Finding the right care home is a deeply personal decision, and we hope this information helps you and your family feel more confident as you explore your options. Every person deserves care that respects their individuality, and the right home will feel welcoming from the moment you walk through the door.
Welcome House - The Chestnuts is one of the care homes in Medway — a local authority with 67 CQC-registered homes, 42 of which are rated Good or Outstanding.
Researching care homes in Rochester?
Get our free comparison checklist — the questions families wish they'd asked before choosing a care home.
Guide on its way — check your inbox.
Further Reading & Official Sources
- Official CQC inspection report for Welcome House - The Chestnuts
- View Welcome House - The Chestnuts on Google Maps
- NHS care home finder near ME1 1RX
We link to official and independent sources so families can verify the information on this page.
What to Expect When Visiting
When visiting a residential care home, pay attention to the atmosphere as much as the facilities. The best homes feel warm, unhurried, and genuinely caring — like a place where your loved one could feel at home.
- Try to visit at different times of day, including mealtimes, to see the home in action.
- Speak with staff and, if possible, current residents or their families about their experience.
- Ask how the home supports residents who may need nursing care in the future.
- Look at the communal spaces — do they feel welcoming, clean, and well-used?
Questions to Ask When Visiting
It can be hard to know what to ask during a care home visit. Here are some questions tailored to Welcome House - The Chestnuts's type of care that may help guide your conversation:
- 1 What happens if a resident's care needs increase beyond what you can provide?
- 2 How do you support residents to stay active and connected to their community?
- 3 Can residents personalise their rooms with their own furniture and belongings?
- 4 What does a typical day look like for someone living here?
For a more complete checklist, see our guide to choosing a care home.
Official CQC Inspection Report
The Care Quality Commission last inspected Welcome House - The Chestnuts on 25/09/2025 and rated it Inadequate. The full report includes detailed findings on safety, staffing, and quality of care.
Read the full CQC reportWhat families typically look for
- - How friendly and attentive the care staff are day-to-day
- - What activities and social events are available for residents
- - How the home handles changing care needs over time
These reflect common priorities we see from families researching care homes. For personalised advice, we recommend visiting in person and speaking to current families.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if a resident's care needs increase beyond what you can provide?
CQC rated Welcome House - The Chestnuts as Requires Improvement for Responsive care on 25/09/2025, which includes how the home adapts to residents' changing needs. Ask what the home's protocol is when a resident needs a higher level of nursing care — whether they support a managed transition or have partnerships with local nursing homes.
How do you support residents to stay active and connected to their community?
CQC rated Welcome House - The Chestnuts as Inadequate for Caring on 25/09/2025. This domain covers how staff support residents' emotional wellbeing, social connection, and sense of purpose. During your visit, ask to see the activities timetable and speak with current residents or their families about daily life.
Can residents personalise their rooms with their own furniture and belongings?
Most residential care homes encourage residents to bring personal furniture and belongings to make their room feel like home. When visiting Welcome House - The Chestnuts, ask about room sizes, any restrictions on furniture, and whether residents can hang pictures and decorate their space as they wish. A personalised room can make a significant difference to a resident's sense of comfort and identity.
What does a typical day look like for someone living here?
With 15 residents and care tailored to mental health conditions, daily routines at Welcome House - The Chestnuts will be shaped around individual needs. During your visit, observe the lunchtime atmosphere, ask about morning routines and whether residents have flexibility around wake-up times and meal choices, and check what a typical afternoon looks like.
What is the CQC rating for Welcome House - The Chestnuts?
Welcome House - The Chestnuts in Rochester is rated Inadequate by the Care Quality Commission. The most recent inspection was on 25/09/2025. The home has 15 beds.
How many beds does Welcome House - The Chestnuts have?
Welcome House - The Chestnuts has 15 beds and operates as a residential care home in Rochester.
Location
View on Google Maps →Helpful Guides for Families
Choosing care is a big step. These guides can help you feel more prepared.
Are you Welcome House - The Chestnuts?
Display your CQC rating on your website. Free — no account needed.
Copy and paste this code into your website:
<a href="https://carehome.page/care-home/welcome-house-the-chestnuts-rochester/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="display:inline-flex;align-items:center;text-decoration:none;border-radius:8px;overflow:hidden;box-shadow:0 1px 4px rgba(0,0,0,0.18);font-size:13px;line-height:1.2;font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,'Segoe UI',Roboto,sans-serif;"><div style="background:#dc2626;color:white;display:flex;align-items:center;gap:6px;padding:10px 12px;font-weight:600;white-space:nowrap;"><svg width="18" height="18" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none"><circle cx="12" cy="12" r="10" stroke="white" stroke-width="1.5" fill="none"/><path d="M8 12l3 3 5-5" stroke="white" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round"/></svg> CQC Inadequate</div><div style="background:white;color:#1a3557;padding:10px 12px;display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:1px;"><div style="font-weight:600;color:#1c1917;font-size:12px;">Welcome House - The Chestnuts</div><div style="font-size:10px;color:#78716c;">Verified by <span style="color:#1a3557;font-weight:600;">carehome.page</span></div></div></a>
Other Care Homes in ME1
More from Toqeer Aslam
- Welcome House - Nickleby Lodge Rochester · Requires improvement
- Welcome House - Ruby Lodge Gravesend · Good
- Welcome House - Gillingham Homes Gillingham · Good
Similar Mental health conditions homes
- Puddingstone Grange London · Good
- Firs Court Chessington · Good
- Queen Elizabeth Care Centre Egham · Good
Data from the Care Quality Commission, last updated March 2026. View on CQC website → How we use this data