Oaklands Residential Care Home

Updated 16 March 2023

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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

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

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

Oaklands Residential Care Home is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Oaklands is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced on the first day and announced on the second day.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.

We spoke with 6 people using the service and 7 members of staff, which included both registered managers.

We reviewed a range of records. We looked at a variety of records relating to the care and support provided. This included 4 care files and 3 staff files in relation to recruitment, and various audits/reports relating to the quality and safety of the service. We requested a variety of records were sent to us relating to the management of the service.

After the inspection

After our visit we sought feedback from relatives and health and social care professionals to obtain their views of the service provided to people. We received feedback from 2 relatives, and 1 health and social care professional. We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found.

Updated 16 March 2023

About the service

Oaklands is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care to 22 people in one adapted building at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 25 people.

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

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

The service provided safe care to people. A person commented, “I feel really safe here, the staff look after me.” A relative commented, “Mum is definitely kept safe, I have no concerns.” Staff demonstrated an understanding of what might constitute abuse and knew how to report any concerns they might have.

People’s individual risks were identified, and risk assessment reviews were carried out to identify ways to keep people safe. Medicines were managed as necessary. Effective infection control measures were in place. The principles of the Mental Capacity Act were adhered to when necessary. Health and social care professionals were regularly involved in people’s care to ensure they received the care and treatment which was right for them.

There were effective staff recruitment and selection processes in place. People confirmed that staffing arrangements met their needs. There were enough staff to support people and the staff worked well as a team.

Staff relationships with people were caring and supportive. Staff provided care that was kind and compassionate. People commented, “The staff are lovely. I am happy here” and “They (staff) are really kind and caring.” Relatives commented, “The staff are super, they really are lovely. The staff are so patient. Mum is like a new woman since she moved to Oaklands, she is even walking again!” and “When we visited, a carer was gently stroking mums’ hair, which she likes because she was feeling distressed. The staff are so attentive.”

Staff spoke positively about communication and how the registered managers worked well with them and encouraged their professional development.

A number of methods were used to assess the quality and safety of the service people received. The service made continuous improvements in response to their findings.

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

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 11 June 2021) and there were breaches of regulation. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

At our last inspection we recommended the service follows best practice guidance in developing PRN protocols for individuals who may be prescribed PRN medicines. At this inspection, the provider had made improvements.

Why we inspected

We carried out an unannounced comprehensive inspection of this service on 27 November 2020. Breaches of legal requirements were found. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve safe care and treatment, fit and proper persons employed and good governance.

We undertook this focused inspection to check they had followed their action plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to the Key Questions Safe and Well-led which contain those requirements. We have also reported on the Key Question Caring.

For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating. The overall rating for the service has changed from requires improvement to good. This is based on the findings at this inspection.

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 Oaklands Residential Care Home 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.