Conifer Lodge

Conifer Lodge is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care for up to 13 people. At the time of the inspection there were 13 people using the service. Each person had their own en-suite room and other communal lounge and bathroom areas. The service has a large garden with many facilities for bar-be-cues, outdoor games and places to have privacy.

People's experience of using this service and what we found

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. 'Right support, right care, right culture' is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.

Although best practice is for no more than six people using this type of service, people using the service had developed long-term friendships and lived a life being treated equally well. There were plans in place to support people to move where this had been deemed in people's best interests.

Based on our review of is the service safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led questions, the service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture.

Right support

The staff supported people to have the maximum possible choice, control to be independent and they had control over their own lives. The service gave people care and support in a safe environment that was clean and suitably equipped to meet people's physical and emotional needs. Staff complied with measures designed to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading within the service.

Staff totally focused on people's strengths and promoted what they could do, enabling the opportunity for people to lead exceptionally fulfilling and meaningful lives. One person told us it was the best day of their life having been to a professional football match.

Staff supported people to pursue their interests inside and outside the home. People had aspirations and goals which staff helped people to exceed. The service worked completely with people to plan for when they experienced periods of distress; to minimise any restrictions and to ensure people had as much freedom, choice and control over their lives as possible. One person told us they would remember the day for ever when they met a famous sports star.

Staff received highly effective training in the use of restraint and were confident in their ability to deploy this training. At the time of our inspection no person required restraint. Any restraint would be in an emergency situation as a last resort and for the shortest time possible. One person told us not having medicines anymore during such periods had, “Changed their life for the better for ever.” Staff supported people to make decisions following best practice in decision-making. Staff communicated with people in ways that met their needs.

Staff enabled people to access the community and pursue their interests in their local area. People were administered their medicines in a way that respected their independence and achieved the best possible positive health outcomes.

Right Care

Staff totally focused on and promoted people's equality and diversity completely, supporting and responding exceptionally well to their individual needs. This totally changed people's lives for the better. One person was proud to show us a photograph of them attending a remembrance day parade dressed in a way they chose that represented their passion.

People helped create and review their care plans when they chose to, and as such were an exact reflection of the support they needed and what people could do independently. Staff had training on how to recognise and report abuse, and had the skills protect people from poor care and abuse, or the risk of this happening. The service worked with other agencies to do so. The service had enough appropriately skilled staff to meet people's needs and keep them safe. All those we spoke with felt people were safe and had enough support to do this.

Staff had a very thorough understanding of people's individual ways of communicating and this enabled people to be listened to. People received care that supported their needs and aspirations, was focused on their quality of life, and followed best practice.

Right Culture

People were supported by staff who totally understood best practice in relation people's strengths, impairments or sensitivities people with a learning disability and/or autistic people may have. Staff knew people exceptionally well and responded to their needs and wishes.

Staff's diligence and persistence enabled people to exceed their aspirations. This helped people live a meaningful life full of opportunities they might otherwise not have had. One person was now seeing a relative they had not seen for 20 years.

Staff put people's wishes, needs and rights at the heart of everything they did. Staff ensured risks of a closed culture were minimised so that people received support based on transparency, respect and inclusivity.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for the service under the previous provider was Outstanding, published on 26 September 2017. Although there was a new owner of the home, the registered manager and most of the staff team had been with the home for many years. The current provider registered the service with us on 5 March 2021 and this is their first inspection.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection since ownership of the home changed.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the 'all reports' link for Conifer Lodge on our website at www.cqc.org.uk

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.

We found the following examples of good practice.

The service took part in the national COVID-19 testing programme for care homes. Individual risk assessments were completed for staff and people to keep them safe.

Staff followed the providers robust infection prevention controls, this included monitoring and documenting their temperature before commencing each shift. Regular meetings were held to discuss good practice and review any lessons learned, to continually ensure best practice and guidance was followed. Infection control leads monitored the service daily.

All staff received training on infection control, the correct use and disposal of personal protective equipment (PPE) and good hand washing techniques. Competency checks were completed to ensure good practices. COVID-19 training was also completed with people who lived at Conifer Lodge, to help support their safety and understanding.

The registered manager confirmed that good communication and the involvement of staff and people had been key to their wellbeing. There had been lots of work on social activities, support in the community and exercising.

The registered manager confirmed their door was always open for staff and people to come and talk. Visits to the home needed to be booked in advance and were completed in a designated area that staff thoroughly cleaned after each visit.

The service looked clean and free from clutter. To ensure good infection control, appropriate cleaning products were used. Cleaning schedules ensured frequently touched areas were sanitised. Infection control audits were completed and monitored regularly.