Oatlands Care Limited

Updated 25 April 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

One inspector, a medicines inspector, a bank inspector and an Expert by Experience visited the service on the 26 January 2023. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service. Another inspector also worked remotely supporting the inspection.

Service and service type

Oatlands Care Limited 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. Oatlands Care Limited 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.

What we did before 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 five people who used the service and one relative about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with six staff, the deputy manager, the clinical lead, the registered manager and the registered provider.

We reviewed a range of records. This included six people's care records and eight medicines records. We looked at five staff files in relation to recruitment and staff training. We also reviewed a variety of records relating to the management of the service including quality monitoring checks, audits and policies and procedures.

Updated 25 April 2023

About the service

Oatlands Care Limited is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care to 39 people at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 43 people.

Oatlands Care Limited is one of three locations at the same address owned by the provider. Some services and facilities such as activities, kitchen and laundry arrangements are shared between the locations as a community. Oatlands Care Limited has its own staff and operates independently, under the overall supervision and management control of the provider.

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

During this inspection, we found improvement was needed with some areas of medicines management.

There were safeguarding procedures in place and the registered manager and staff had a clear understanding of these procedures. Appropriate recruitment checks had taken place before staff started work at the service. Staff were effectively deployed to meet people's needs. There were systems in place for monitoring, investigating and learning from incidents and accidents. The service had procedures in place to reduce the risk of infections.

People's care and support needs were assessed when they moved into the home. Risks to people had been assessed to ensure their needs were met safely. Staff were supported through induction, training and regular supervision. Staff had the skills, knowledge and experience to support people with their care needs. People were supported to maintain a healthy balanced diet and they had access to health care professionals when they needed them. The design of the premises met people's needs. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People and their relatives had been consulted about their care and support needs. People were offered a range of activities to support their need for social interaction and stimulation. The service understood the importance of working within the principles of the Equality Act and supported people in meeting their diverse needs. The service had a complaints procedure in place. People had access to end of life care and support when it was required.

The registered manager and staff worked in partnership with health and social care providers to plan and deliver an effective service. The provider took the views of people, their relatives, professionals and staff into account through surveys. There were systems in place to monitor the quality and safety of the service, and any learning was identified and acted on. Staff enjoyed working at the home and said they received good support from management staff.

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was good (published 6 January 2018).

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.

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

Enforcement and Recommendations

We have identified breaches in relation to medicines management.

Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.

Follow up

We will request an action plan from the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.