The Evergreens Lodge

The assessment was carried out because the provider was previously in breach of the legal regulation in relation to safe care and treatment and good governance. Improvements were found at this assessment, and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

The provider now had effective systems to ensure medicines were managed safely and people received the medicines they were prescribed.

There were enough staff available to meet people’s needs. Staff demonstrated a good understanding of people’s needs and how to meet them. Staff now received training that was relevant to their role and the manager monitored training to ensure refresher courses were completed when they were due.

People and relatives were involved in assessments of their needs. Assessments considered people’s communication, personal and health care needs. Care was based on latest evidence and good practice. People had enough to eat and drink to stay healthy. Staff worked with all agencies involved in people’s care for the best outcomes and smooth transitions when moving between services.

Staff made sure people understood their care and treatment to enable them to give informed consent. Staff took decisions in people’s best interests in line with the principles of the Mental Capacity Act where they did not have capacity to consent.

The service was clean, and staff followed good infection prevention and control measures.

People were treated with kindness and compassion. Staff protected people’s privacy and dignity. They treated people as individuals and supported their preferences. People had choice in their care and were encouraged to maintain relationships with relatives and friends. Staff responded to people in a timely way.

People and their relatives were involved in decisions about their care. Staff provided information in ways people could understand. People knew how to give feedback and were confident the provider took it seriously and acted on it. People were supported to plan for their future, including identifying any needs in relation to end of life care.

The provider now had systems to assess how the service was operating and plan improvements where needed. However, we identified minor shortfalls in these systems which were addressed by the manager during the inspection. Leaders and staff had a shared vision and culture based on listening, learning and trust. Leaders were visible, knowledgeable and supportive, helping staff develop in their roles. Staff felt supported to give feedback and were treated equally, free from bullying or harassment.