CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Conifers Nursing Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found people were protected from abuse, risks were managed, medicines were given safely and infection control arrangements were effective. Some people waited longer for morning assistance because of staff deployment, and the manager addressed this after the inspection.
- Effective?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this focused visit. Its previous rating was used to help calculate the overall rating.
- Caring?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this focused visit. Its previous rating was used to help calculate the overall rating.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this focused visit. Its previous rating was used to help calculate the overall rating.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found a positive, person-centred culture. The provider used feedback, reviews and audits to improve the service and staff understood their roles.
What inspectors found, February 2022
Rated Good; inspectors found safe care and strong management, with a short delay for some morning support.
This was an unannounced, focused inspection on 29 November 2021. Two inspectors checked the Safe and Well-led areas because of concerns about staff conduct and safeguarding, as well as infection control and COVID-19 vaccination requirements.
The inspectors found people were protected from abuse, risks were assessed, medicines were managed safely and there were enough staff overall. Infection prevention measures were effective. They noted that some people waited longer for help in the morning because of staff deployment, but the manager addressed this after the visit.
The home was rated Good overall. Safe was rated Good and Well-led was rated Good. The other three areas were not inspected during this visit, so their earlier ratings were used in calculating the overall rating. The previous overall rating was also Good.
Protection from abuse
Staff were trained to recognise and report abuse. Inspectors found the provider had dealt appropriately with the safeguarding concerns raised before the inspection.
“People were protected from the risk of abuse. Staff were trained to identify and report abuse.” from the report
Infection control
Inspectors were assured that the home had effective arrangements for preventing and managing infection. Managers checked vaccination evidence before workers entered the building.
“We were assured that the provider was making sure infection outbreaks can be effectively prevented or managed.” from the report
Positive leadership
The manager had developed a culture focused on people. Staff, relatives and people using the service gave positive feedback about the care and management.
“The registered manager had developed a positive culture which put people at the heart of the service.” from the report
Learning from incidents
Accidents, incidents and near misses were recorded and reviewed. Learning was shared with staff to improve safety.
“Any learning from untoward incidents was shared with the staff team, to help improve the safety of the service.” from the report
Morning waiting times
minorStaff deployment meant some people waited longer to receive help in the morning. The manager addressed this after the inspection, but families should check how this is now monitored.
“However, staff deployment meant some people had to wait longer to be assisted in a morning.” from the report
- 01What changes were made after the inspection to reduce waiting times for morning assistance?
- 02How do you check that staffing levels and staff deployment meet people's needs at busy times?
- 03How are safeguarding concerns, including unexplained bruising, reported and reviewed?
- 04How do you check that medicines records remain complete and that staff remain competent?
- 05Can you show us the latest findings from care reviews, satisfaction surveys and staff feedback?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led, including infection control and COVID-19 vaccination checks; the other key questions were not inspected and their earlier ratings were used. This explanation was written from the published report of 11 February 2022 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
What inspectors found, March 2021
Conifers Nursing Home was inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured about infection prevention and control.
This was an unannounced, targeted inspection on 27 November 2020. It followed information of concern about infection control and prevention measures during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Inspectors looked at infection prevention and control. They were assured that the home managed visitors, admissions, testing, personal protective equipment, cleaning, social distancing and infection outbreaks appropriately.
The home used a visiting pod and supported contact through video calls and telephone calls. Inspectors also saw staff using protective equipment correctly and found the home clean and hygienic.
The service was inspected but not rated. This was not a full inspection of all five areas of care, so the report does not give an overall quality rating.
Visitor safety
Visits were restricted, risk assessed and supported by symptom checks and protective equipment.
“Visits were restricted and management risk assessed each visit.” from the report
Testing and outbreak planning
People living in the home and staff were supported with regular COVID-19 testing. The home also had plans for zoning and grouping people if there was a positive result.
“People who lived at the home and staff were supported with regular testing for COVID-19.” from the report
Cleanliness and PPE
Inspectors found the home clean and hygienic and saw staff using protective equipment correctly.
“We observed staff wore PPE appropriately during our inspection.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are visitor risk assessments and symptom checks carried out now?
- 02Is the visiting pod still available, and what arrangements are in place for face-to-face visits?
- 03What happens when someone returns from hospital, including any isolation arrangements?
- 04How often are people living in the home and staff tested, and what happens after a positive result?
- 05How are high-touch areas cleaned and how is PPE use checked?
This was an unannounced targeted inspection of infection prevention and control measures only; the service was inspected but not rated in the other areas. This explanation was written from the published report of 24 March 2021 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
Every inspection of Conifers Nursing Home
4 rated inspections over 6 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- February 2022Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2021Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- July 2020Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- February 2020Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 1 December 2010.
Ratings and report dates from the Care Quality Commission, Open Government Licence v3.0. A home can also be visited without a new rating being published, so the timeline shows published inspections.
Weigh the report against the rest
Fees, photos and reviews from families
How to read CQC ratings and reports
What to check when you visit
85 live-in carers within about an hour of Lancashire
These are self-employed carers on PrimeCarers, the introductory agency that runs this directory. Each has a profile with their own rates and reviews from families, and you choose who to talk to.
Most charge £980 to £1,260 a week. 78 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“She understands the needs of an elderly person in the early stages of dementia and has treated my mother with great kindness and skill.”
“Thanks to Tracy, Dad was always immaculately dressed and clean, his meals were all home cooked and nutritionally well balanced and his home was always kept really clean and tidy.”
Every carer has had an enhanced DBS check in the last 18 months, ID and right-to-work checks and an online interview. Their skills and training are for you to check with them. Carers set their own rates, and who is free changes week to week.