Oak Lodge

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

Oak Lodge 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. Oak Lodge 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 the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority. 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 6 people about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 8 members of staff including the registered manager, quality manager, senior care worker, chef, housekeeper and care workers.

We reviewed a range of records. This included 4 people's care records and multiple medication and food and fluid records. We looked at 3 staff files in relation to recruitment. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

Updated 16 March 2023

About the service

Oak Lodge is a residential care home providing personal care for up to 28 people. The service provides support to people with dementia, mental health, older people and younger adults. At the time of our inspection there were 16 people using the service in one adapted building.

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

Care plans and risk assessments were person centred and reflective of people's current needs. Medicines were stored safely and were managed well. The environment was much improved, and work was still ongoing to improve the home. Quality audits clearly identified areas for improvement and ensured that people were safe and involved in their care and support.

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.

There were enough staff. Staff were recruited safely and received an induction to ensure they had the skills and knowledge to undertake their role. The staff team told us they were well supported and that they delivered person-centred care. We observed all the staff team working together well and the culture at the service was professional, warm and welcoming.

Regular activities were carried out to promote social inclusion and the servcie had improved links with the local community. People instead of using the hairdressing room in the home, visited a neighbourhood salon with the support of the staff.

Systems were in place to protect people from abuse. Staff demonstrated a good level of understanding in relation to safeguarding. Appropriate referrals to the local safeguarding team had been made. People and staff spoke positively about the registered manager and felt able to raise concerns and were confident that these would be addressed.

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 10 February 2021). At our last inspection we recommended that the provider made improvements in relation to quality audits, staff recruitment and medicines. At this inspection we found the provider had made improvements in these areas.

At our last inspection we recommended that the provider made improvements in relation to quality audits, staff recruitment and medicines. At this inspection we found the provider had made improvements in these areas.

Why we inspected

We carried out an unannounced inspection in January 2021 and found improvements were needed. We undertook this focused inspection to check the service had followed their action plan and to confirm improvements were made. This report only covers our findings in relation to the Key Questions safe, effective and well-led which contain those improvements.

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 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.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.