We carried out a review of the data available to us about Oak Farm on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Oak Farm, you can give feedback on this service.
Oak Farm is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to seven people with a learning disability and/or autism.The location offers individual and shared accommodation across four separate buildings each of which has separate adapted facilities. At the time of our inspection there were two people using the service.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.
This provider was able to demonstrate they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture.
Overall people were supported to have 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. We received mixed feedback from relatives about activities. Some families said there should be more frequent activities outside of Oak Farm. We have made a recommendation about the activities provided by the service.
Right Support:
People's religious, cultural and personal diversity was recognised by the service, with their care plans outlining their backgrounds and beliefs.
The provider had a process in place to safeguard people from the risk of abuse. Staff were knowledgeable about safeguarding and knew how to act on their concerns. The provider had a recruitment system in place to ensure appropriate staff were employed.
Risks associated with people’s care had been identified and assessments were in place to minimise risks occurring. The provider adopted least restrictive practices underpinned by a positive behaviour approach.
Quality audits were in place and completed regularly by the senior team. However, a medication audit had failed to note an error in transcription. The medication policy in place referred to more frequent assessments of staff competence than were taking place. We recommend the provider review their system for auditing medication and their medication policy to ensure they are in line with best practice guidance.
Right Care:
People received care and support from staff who knew them well and understood their needs and considered their preferences. Staff interacted positively with people and had a caring and respectful approach.
The provider made sure people got all the information they needed in an accessible format, to support them to make decisions about their care and support, including easy read, pictorial and translation of documents from English.
Relatives told us they would like to be more involved in some areas of their families care and for their relative to have more support with independence.
Right Culture:
Staff at all levels worked hard to promote a culture that was person-centred and inclusive. The vision and values of the home were understood by staff and translated into the delivery of care.
Staff told us should they have any concerns about poor practice they would feel confident to raise them and their concerns would be acted upon.
Staff supported people to explore and embrace their identity and provided care that was sensitive to equality and diversity.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
This service was registered with us on 11 February 2021 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about the 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.
Recommendations
We have made a recommendation for the provider to review their system for medicines management audits and a recommendation abut the activities provided by the service.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.