Oakridge House Care Home with Nursing

Updated 24 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

This inspection was carried out by 2 inspectors and 2 Experts by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

Oakridge House Care Home with Nursing 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. Oakridge House is a care home with 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.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. 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 spoke with 10 people and 4 relatives about their experiences of care received. We also telephoned a further 9 relatives following our site visit to ask their views about the service. We spoke with 8 members of staff, 2 deputy managers, the registered manager, and a visiting healthcare professional. Following our site visit we also telephoned a further 3 members of staff and the provider’s clinical lead.

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 reviewed care and support records for 12 people, multiple medicines records, training information, health and safety records including fire safety records, accidents and incidents, cleaning schedules, 4 staff recruitment files, quality monitoring information, policies and procedures, staff meeting minutes, staffing rotas, service improvement plans, complaints, activity programmes and planner, and the safeguarding information log.

Updated 24 March 2023

About the service

Oakridge House Care Home with Nursing provides accommodation for persons who require nursing or personal care for up to 91 people. The service supports people under and over 65 years, and people living with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 79 people using the service.

Accommodation was provided on two floors accessed by stairs and lifts. The home is divided into residential and nursing households. There are various units within the home including a short stay unit. This was for people living in the community who needed additional care to prevent unnecessary admissions to hospital. People moved into the unit to receive care and support from various healthcare professionals to help them improve their independence.

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

At our last inspection we found there were areas which we identified as needing improvement. At this inspection we found all required improvements had been carried out and sustained.

People were kept safe from avoidable harm as risks to people’s safety were identified and guidance put in place. Risk management plans were reviewed regularly and when any needs changed. Staff had been given training on safeguarding and understood what they needed to report. Systems were in place to make sure any concerns were reported to local safeguarding teams.

People were living in a building that had regular checks for maintenance and safety. Health and safety systems were robust and included checks of equipment being used. Fire systems were also checked and there was a clear process for emergency evacuation which staff were aware of. Incidents and accidents were recorded and reviewed, and action taken to prevent reoccurrence. The home was clean and had good infection prevention and control procedures in place.

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. People and relatives had opportunities for engaging and sharing their views, results were shared and visible on notice boards. People could have visitors when they wished.

People had enough staff to support them safely. The home had no challenges with recruitment and did not use agency staff. Staff had been recruited safely and received training for their roles. Staff told us they felt very well supported by management teams and were able to share their ideas for improvements. There were regular staff meetings with minutes kept. Those we spoke with all said they would recommend the home as a good place to work.

Quality monitoring systems had improved, and the provider had installed an electronic system to improve oversight. Regular audits took place which helped to improve quality and safety, and these were carried out by different staff. The registered manager told us she tried to involve staff in quality monitoring as much as possible as this gave different views and improved oversight.

People, relatives, and staff all told us the service was well managed. There was a registered manager in post who had been at the service for many years. There was a good staffing structure in place and the registered manager had good support in her role.

Staff worked in partnership with a range of local professionals. The local GP visited the home at least weekly and spent most of the day visiting people and reviewing health needs. Communication was good and we observed staff working well as a team.

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 requires improvement (published 18 June 2021).

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service. 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, which will help inform when we next inspect.