CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at The Conifers Healthcare Limited
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured about infection prevention and control. They found safe arrangements for visitors, admissions, PPE, testing, hygiene, social distancing and managing possible outbreaks.
- Effective?
- Good
- Does the care work? Training, consent, food and drink, working with GPs and nurses.
- Caring?
- Good
- Are people treated with kindness and dignity?
- Responsive?
- Good
- Is care built around the person? Care plans, activities, complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Is the home run well? The manager, the culture, how problems get found and fixed.
What inspectors found, February 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured that infection control arrangements were keeping people safe.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 28 January 2021. It looked only at infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic.
Inspectors found clear visitor screening, testing, temperature checks and PPE requirements. The home used safe spaces and mobile screens to support visits, while non-essential visiting was restricted because of the national lockdown.
The home had supplies of PPE, good hand hygiene, regular testing and daily checks for symptoms. New residents were isolated for 14 days, and the home was clean and arranged to support social distancing.
The service was inspected but not rated. This means the inspection did not give an overall quality rating or a rated score for safety.
Visitor safety
Visitors were screened for symptoms, tested rapidly and had their temperature taken before entering. PPE was supplied, and safe spaces and mobile screens supported visits.
“The service screened all visitors for symptoms of COVID-19 and gave them a rapid COVID-19 test and took their temperature” from the report
PPE and hand hygiene
There was a plentiful supply of PPE and places to change, wash hands and dispose of it. Inspectors saw staff following good hand hygiene.
“Staff wore PPE in line with government guidance. There was a plentiful supply of PPE and stations throughout the home” from the report
Testing and monitoring
People living in the home and staff had regular COVID-19 testing. Staff, visitors and residents were checked daily for possible symptoms.
“The service monitored staff, visitors and people living in the home daily for any signs or symptoms for possible infection” from the report
Safe admissions and layout
The home was clean and arranged for social distancing. New residents were kept on a separate floor and isolated for 14 days.
“People newly admitted to the service moved to a separate floor to existing residents where they were isolated for 14 days.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How have your visitor screening, testing and PPE arrangements changed since 28 January 2021?
- 02How do you currently support contact with family when normal visiting is restricted?
- 03Do new residents still move to a separate area and isolate for 14 days, or what arrangements are used now?
- 04How often are residents and staff tested for COVID-19 now?
- 05What arrangements would you use if a suspected COVID-19 case or outbreak occurred?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic; the service was inspected but not rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 17 February 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.
What inspectors found, May 2017
The Conifers Healthcare Limited was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and responsive care, with quality surveys needing to be restarted.
This was an unannounced inspection on 3 and 4 May 2017. Inspectors spoke with people living at the home, relatives, staff and health and social care professionals. They also observed care and checked care plans, medicines records, staffing files, safety records and quality audits.
The home provided nursing care for up to 30 older people, including some people living with dementia. There were 29 residents at the inspection. Inspectors found that people felt safe, were treated kindly and had their choices respected. Risks were recorded and managed, medicines were handled safely, and staffing levels had increased since the previous inspection.
Care plans were personalised and kept up to date. People received support with food, health appointments and clinical care. Inspectors also found that staff were supported through training and supervision, and that managers listened to people and relatives.
All five areas were rated Good. This means the inspection found the home was meeting the relevant standards at that time. The overall Good rating was unchanged from the previous inspection in May 2015.
Risks were managed
Inspectors found that risks were identified, recorded and understood by staff. This included measures to reduce the risk of pressure ulcers and arrangements for emergency evacuation.
“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.” from the report
Safe medicines support
Medicines records were accurate and inspectors found suitable systems for receiving, storing, giving and disposing of medicines.
“We checked medicines and saw satisfactory and accurate records in relation to the receipt, storage, administration and disposal of medicines at the home.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People and relatives spoke positively about staff. Inspectors saw calm, friendly interactions and found that people's privacy and dignity were respected.
“We saw that people were relaxed with the staff and the management and it was clear from the calm and friendly interactions between staff and people using the service that positive and respectful relationships had developed between everyone.” from the report
Personalised care
Care plans described people's needs, goals and preferences. Staff updated them when people's needs changed and involved people or relatives where possible.
“Care plans were centred on the individual and gave staff clear and detailed information about people's needs, goals and aspirations whilst being mindful of identified risks to their safety.” from the report
Supportive management
Staff said they received clear guidance, training and support. People and relatives said managers were approachable and listened to suggestions.
“Staff were positive about working at The Conifers and told us they really appreciated the clear guidance and support they received from the registered manager.” from the report
Quality surveys had lapsed
minorThe home had not used a quality survey for some time. Managers said they planned to restart surveys and formalise the quality assurance programme.
“The service manager told us that people were encouraged to make suggestions for improvements however, they had not used a quality survey for a while.” from the report
Activities for people with complex needs
minorThe report says around two thirds of residents could not join group activities. Managers recognised that keeping people occupied and engaged was a challenge, although staff were seen spending time with people in their rooms.
“Of the current 30 people using the service around two thirds had very complex needs and were not able to join in group activities.” from the report
- 01What activities and one-to-one time are now offered to people who cannot join group activities?
- 02How are staffing levels matched to residents' current dependency and complex nursing needs?
- 03Have quality surveys been restarted, and what changes have been made as a result of residents' and relatives' feedback?
- 04How are people on the first floor safely evacuated, and how often are staff trained to use the evacuation mats?
- 05How are care plans updated when a person's health or care needs change?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five CQC questions and the overall rating; the report says the ratings remained Good from May 2015. This explanation was written from the published report of 26 May 2017 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 The Conifers Healthcare Limited
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- February 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
Read what inspectors found at The Conifers Healthcare Limited →
- May 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at The Conifers Healthcare Limited →
- June 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 25 January 2011.
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.
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