Background to this inspection
Updated
27 November 2020
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 conducting a thematic review of infection control and prevention measures in care homes.
The service was selected to take part in this thematic review which is seeking to identify examples of good practice in infection prevention and control.
This inspection took place on 17 November 2020 and was announced.
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Updated
27 November 2020
This inspection was carried out on 14 August 2018 and was unannounced. At their last inspection on 5 November 2015, they were found to be meeting the standards we inspected. At this inspection we found that they had continued to meet all the standards.
Evergreen House is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. Evergreen House provides accommodation for up to six people with learning disabilities. The home is not registered to provide nursing care. At the time of the inspection there were six people living there.
The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.
The service had a manager who was in the process of becoming registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). A registered manager is a person who has registered with the CQC 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
People knew the management team and relatives told us the service was well run. There was a quality assurance process to help maintain and improve the service provided. People were regularly out in the community and the management team engaged with external agencies to help drive improvement.
People felt safe and staff knew how to respond to abuse. Risks were assessed and mitigated. However, staff training in regard to fire safety needed to be developed. This was carried out following the inspection. Medicines were managed safely and infection control was promoted.
People were supported by enough staff but recruitment processes needed to be more robust. Staff had opportunities for training and received supervision.
People managed their own nutrition with support from staff and the service worked in accordance with the principles of the Mental Capacity Act. People had access to health and social care professionals when needed.
People were treated with dignity, respect and kindness. The staff treated the service as it was people’s home. People were involved in planning and deciding their care and staff knew them well.
People received care that met their needs and support plans enabled the staff to support people appropriately. People enjoyed a range of activities that suited their hobbies, preferences and interests while promoting independence. There was a complaint’s process that people and relatives knew how to use.