Red Oaks Care Community

On this page

• Overview
• Shared direction and culture
• Capable, compassionate and inclusive leaders
• Freedom to speak up
• Workforce equality, diversity and inclusion
• Governance, management and sustainability
• Partnerships and communities
• Learning, improvement and innovation

Well-led – this means we looked for evidence that service leadership, management and governance assured high-quality, person-centred care; supported learning and innovation; and promoted an open, fair culture.

At our last assessment we rated this key question requires improvement. At this assessment the rating has changed to good. This meant the service was consistently managed and well-led. Leaders and the culture they created promoted high-quality, person-centred care.

This service scored 75 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

The provider had a shared vision and culture that promoted people's rights, dignity, inclusion and wellbeing. Leaders and staff demonstrated a commitment to providing person-centred care and creating positive experiences for people living at the service.

Improvements had been made since the previous assessment to ensure the provider's values were reflected in day-to-day practice. The environment was cleaner, better maintained and more supportive of people's privacy and dignity. People's care and support were delivered in a way that respected their individual needs, preferences and human rights.

Staff understood the provider's expectations and described a culture focused on improving outcomes for people. Feedback from staff and relatives indicated there had been a positive shift within the home, with greater emphasis on quality, accountability and person-centred care.

The provider had leaders who were visible, approachable and committed to improving the quality of care people received. Leaders demonstrated an understanding of the needs of people using the service and the challenges faced by staff.

Staff consistently spoke positively about the management team and told us they felt supported in their roles. One staff member said, "We have a new manager who is approachable and the provider is continuing to employee more people to support us, we have a new clinical lead too.” Staff described leaders as responsive and willing to provide advice and support when required.

Leaders had taken action to address concerns identified at the previous assessment and demonstrated an ongoing commitment to driving improvement. Systems had been strengthened to provide greater oversight of care delivery, the environment and people's outcomes. Audits were now effective at identifying improvements and potential risk and management were responsive to this. A staff member said, “If I identify anything that needs repairing or fixing around the home the provider acts straight away to ensure I have whatever we need.” This helped to ensure people received safer, more person-centred care.

The provider promoted a culture where people and staff felt able to speak up and raise concerns without fear of negative consequences.

Staff told us they felt comfortable approaching managers with concerns and were confident these would be listened to and acted upon. Staff described an open and transparent culture where feedback was encouraged and valued.

Information about safeguarding, whistleblowing and raising concerns was available to staff, enabling them to understand their responsibilities and how to escalate concerns appropriately. Staff demonstrated they understood safeguarding processes and reported feeling supported to speak up when required.

The provider valued diversity within the workforce and promoted an inclusive and fair culture.

Staff told us they felt respected, valued and supported regardless of their background or personal circumstances. Policies and procedures supported equality, diversity and inclusion, and staff demonstrated they understood their responsibilities in promoting equality and respecting differences.

There was a positive culture amongst staff, who described working within a supportive team environment where fairness, respect and inclusion were encouraged.

The provider had strengthened governance systems to support the delivery of safe, effective and high-quality care. There were clear systems of accountability and oversight in place to monitor performance, identify risks and drive improvement.

Regular audits and checks were completed across key areas of the service, which included the environment, infection prevention and control, medicines management and care records. Issues identified through these processes were acted upon promptly and monitored to ensure improvements were sustained.

Care records had been reviewed and updated since our last assessment to ensure they accurately reflected people's current needs and provided clear guidance for staff. Medication systems were effectively managed, and staff competencies were regularly monitored to ensure safe practice.

The provider continued to work effectively with partner organisations and the wider community to support positive outcomes for people.

Staff worked collaboratively with healthcare professionals, including GPs, community nurses, dieticians and other specialist services to ensure people received the support they needed. Records demonstrated that professional advice was acted upon and incorporated into people's care where appropriate.

Relatives told us communication had improved and they were now informed and involved in decisions affecting their family members. The service continued to promote family involvement and opportunities for people to maintain relationships that were important to them.

The provider had taken steps to strengthen its approach to learning, improvement and service development. Leaders demonstrated a commitment to learning from feedback, incidents, audits and previous assessment findings to improve outcomes for people.

Action plans had been developed and implemented following identified concerns, and there was evidence improvements had been sustained. Leaders monitored progress through regular audits, governance meetings and quality assurance processes, helping to ensure improvements became embedded within practice.

Staff told us they were kept informed about changes within the service and were encouraged to contribute ideas for improvement. Lessons learned from incidents, feedback and audits were shared with staff to support learning and improve care delivery.

The improvements made since the previous assessment demonstrated the provider's commitment to continuous improvement and to providing people with safe, responsive and person-centred care.