Archived: Oakview Lodge Also known as Welwyn Garden City

We found the following examples of good practice.

¿ The service was receiving professional visitors with infection control procedures in place. Visitors were health screened and had their temperatures checked by on arrival. Handwashing facilities and alcohol gel were made available and all visitors were required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE).

¿ The service had been providing screened visits in a ‘garden room’ with robust procedures in place. Visits were limited and were by appointment only, with times allocated to avoid potential infection transmission with other visitors. Visits had been temporarily suspended due to an outbreak of COVID-19 at the service, which had been communicated openly with people and relatives. The interim manager confirmed that relatives were frequently updated with regards to the services’ position regarding future visits.

¿ The service had taken steps to alleviate feelings of loneliness or isolation being experienced by people. Staff were allocated to support people’s wellbeing and this team were involved in developing activities for people and supporting telephone and video calls to their relatives and friends.

¿ The service was clean and hygienic. Robust cleaning schedules were in place, which were methodically completed throughout the service. Senior staff completed daily checks and ‘walkarounds’ of the building, alongside regular infection prevention and control audits. Action was promptly taken to address any issues identified.

¿ Staff were provided with a designated preparation area on arrival to and departure from the service. PPE donning and doffing stations were placed throughout the building, with ample PPE supplies available. Staff were seen to be maintaining social distance and adhering to the PPE guidance and protective measures in place.

¿ The provider had developed a package of policies and procedures in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Oakview Lodge is a residential care home that was providing personal care to 23 people aged 65 and over at the time of the inspection. The service is registered to provide accommodation and personal care to up to 64 people.

People’s experience of using this service:

People told us they felt safe living at Oakview Lodge, and that the staff treated them with kindness and respect. There were sufficient staff to support people safely. Staff were aware of risks to people’s health and wellbeing and kept them safe from avoidable harm. Equipment was in place to minimise the risk of injury. Lessons learned were embedded within daily practise to ensure staff learned where their practise could improve.

People’s medicines were managed safely and where possible staff encouraged people to manage their own medicines.

Staff and people along with their relatives had developed a good rapport with one another. Staff clearly knew people’s needs and preferences well. Staff were trained in key areas relating to care and further training was planned. People felt staff were well supported and sufficiently trained to provide good care.

People were empowered to make their own choices and staff supported people to remain independent. Staff ensured people were able to maintain close links with people important to them.

The environment was well designed to meet people’s varying needs and adaptations helped people to maintain their independence.

Staff, people and relatives were all provided with regular meetings to discuss the running of the home. Meeting enabled people, relatives and staff to share their views, feedback and make suggestions for improvements openly. People told us they felt confident in raising a complaint, and that the registered manager would take it seriously if they did.

All the people, staff and relatives we spoke with were supportive and complimentary about the registered manager. The registered manager and senior team worked positively together to deliver a good quality level of care to people. People, relatives and staff felt the service was well managed, with an open and honest ethos. They told us the registered manager was visible, led by example and was supportive.

The registered manager completed a range of regular checks of the quality and safety of care provided. The provider additionally carried out their own reviews and shared their findings with the management team.

More information is in Detailed Findings below

Why we inspected: This was a first rated comprehensive inspection and was the first inspection of Oakview Lodge since they registered in January 2018.

Follow up: We will continue to monitor the service through the information we receive. Where this information suggests a decline in the standard of care provided we may revisit the service.