Background to this inspection
Updated
17 February 2021
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.
As part of CQC’s response to the coronavirus pandemic we are looking at the preparedness of care homes in relation to infection prevention and control. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection control and prevention measures the provider has in place.
This inspection took place on 28 January 2021 and was announced.
Updated
17 February 2021
This inspection took place on 3 and 4 May 2017 and was unannounced. At our last inspection in May 2015 the service was rated ‘Good’. At this inspection we found the service remained ‘Good’.
The Conifers Nursing Home is a home for older people who are in need of nursing care. It provides accommodation to a maximum of thirty people some of whom are living with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 29 people residing at the home.
There was a registered manager in post. 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.
People told us they were well treated and felt safe with the staff that supported them.
Risks to people’s safety had been identified and ways to mitigate these risks had been recorded in their care plans and were understood by staff.
Staff were aware that the people they supported were vulnerable and they understood their responsibilities to keep people safe from potential abuse.
There were systems in place to ensure medicines were handled and stored securely and administered to people safely and appropriately.
Staff turnover was low and staff were positive about working at the home. Staff told us they appreciated the support and encouragement they received from the registered manager.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
People told us they enjoyed the food provided and we saw that they were offered choices of what they wanted to eat.
People had regular access to healthcare professionals such as doctors, dentists, chiropodists and opticians.
Staff treated people as unique individuals who had different likes, dislikes, needs and preferences.
People told us that the management and staff listened to them and acted on their suggestions and wishes.
Both people using the service and their relatives told us they were happy to raise any concerns they had with any of the staff and management of the home.
People were included in monitoring the quality of the service and records showed that their suggestions for improvements and preferences about how they wanted to live their lives were respected and acted on.