Oak Tree Lodge

Updated 29 April 2021

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

This inspection was carried out by two inspectors.

Service and service type

Oak Tree Lodge is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

We gave a short period notice of the inspection because we were mindful of the impact of COVID-19 on providers.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and Healthwatch. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with five members of staff including the registered manager, deputy manager, care workers and a member of the domestic team. We spent time observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and multiple medicines records. We looked at four staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We sought feedback from eight relatives about their experience of the care provided. We sought feedback from nine members of staff, including senior care workers and care workers. We sought feedback from three professionals who regularly work with the service.

Updated 29 April 2021

About the service

Oak Tree Lodge is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care to 18 people aged 65 and over at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 19 people, some of whom may be living with dementia or mental health conditions. People are supported in one adapted building with rooms on both the ground and first floors. The home is not registered to provide nursing care.

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

Some required water management checks had not been completed. The provider took immediate action to review and improve systems. Other water management and health and safety checks had been completed consistently to ensure the safety of the environment and people’s care.

The premises were well-maintained, and the provider had sought feedback from people to inform plans for redecoration of the building.

There were enough staff to meet people’s needs in a person-centred and non-hurried way. Staff had been recruited safely and had the required skills, knowledge and experience. People were supported in an attentive and kind way.

People received their medicines as prescribed from staff who had received appropriate training.

We saw good practice in relation to infection prevention and control.

People had person-centred care plans and risk assessments which provided detailed information about their needs and strategies to minimise any risks identified. Staff knew residents well and spoke passionately about their role.

We received consistently positive feedback from relatives and professionals about how the service kept them informed and involved.

People and their relatives had opportunities to give feedback on their care, which was acted upon.

The service had robust quality assurance systems in place to monitor the quality of the service and implement any learning.

Feedback from relatives, staff and professionals about the leadership team was consistently positive.

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 this service was good (published 11 August 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

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.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.