Background to this inspection
Updated
22 February 2020
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.
Inspection team
The inspection was undertaken by one inspector.
Service and service type
Oaklands Care Home 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
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. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with four people who used the service and two relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with six members of staff including the provider, registered manager, registered nurse and senior care worker. We spoke with two visiting healthcare professionals.
We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at two 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 looked at training data and quality assurance records. We spoke with two professionals who regularly visit the service.
Updated
22 February 2020
About the service
Oaklands Care Home is a residential care home and was providing personal and nursing care to 10 younger adults who have mental health problems at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 10 people.
Oaklands Care Home is a former domestic property laid out across three floors. The ground floor accommodates the dining room, staff kitchen, service user’s kitchen and lounge, the nurse’s station is adjacent to the lounge. There is level access to the garden, which incorporates a summer house and access to the registered manager’s office. All three floors offer bedroom accommodation, the first and second floors are accessed by stairs, a stairlift is available to the first floor. All bedrooms offer en-suite facilities.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People told us they were supported by staff who were kind and caring. People’s dignity was maintained and their privacy was respected. The provider ensured people’s equality characteristics were met. People were supported to make their own decisions and staff went ‘above and beyond’ when supporting people to achieve their goals.
People received safe care. Staff knew how to identify potential abuse and what they would do if abuse was suspected or witnessed. There were sufficient numbers of staff to meet the needs of people and staff were recruited safely. Medicines were managed and administered in line with the prescriber’s instructions. Risks were monitored and managed safely.
The provider ensured people received a service that was responsive to their needs. People were supported to maintain and develop relationships and participate in activities that were relevant to them. Although people declined to explore their end of life preferences, the provider had supported people to fulfil ‘bucket lists’ before they passed away. Care planning was personalised and people were supported to access information that was important to them. Complaints were dealt with appropriately.
The service was well-led. Governance systems were used to identify shortfalls, errors and omissions, corrective actions were then taken. The staff and registered manager spoke about and treated people in a person-centred way. The provider had relationships with local organisations and worked to improve peoples’ experiences of care. People had the opportunity to speak about their experiences of living in the home.
People received effective care; people’s needs were assessed and staff worked in partnership with healthcare professionals, supporting people to access healthcare so they achieved good outcomes. People were supported to eat and drink enough by staff who received training relevant to their roles. The provider worked in line with the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). The home was designed and decorated to meet the needs of people living there.
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.
Rating at last inspection good (published August 2017)
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
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.