Archived: Oakley Care Home

Updated 27 January 2018

We carried out this comprehensive inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Oakley Care Home is a ‘care home.’ People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Oakley Care Home in Heysham supports up to three people with mental health needs. It is a mid terraced house with comfortable communal areas and single bedroom accommodation.

The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

Prior to our inspection visit we contacted the commissioning department at Lancashire County Council and this helped us to gain a balanced overview of what people experienced accessing the service.

As part of the inspection we used information the provider sent us in the Provider Information Return. This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

This inspection visit took place on 05 January 2018 and was announced. We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection visit because the service was a small care home for adults who were often out during the day, we needed to be sure someone would be in.

The inspection team consisted of an adult social care inspector.

During the visit we spoke with a range of people about the service. They included two people who lived at the home, one relative and the registered manager/provider. In addition we spoke with a social worker who regularly visited the home and was actively involved with people who lived there. We also observed care practices and how the registered provider interacted with people in their care. This helped us understand the experience of people who lived at Oakley.

We looked at care records of two people and arrangements for meal provision. We also looked at records relating to the management of the home and medication records. No staff had been employed for a number of years and one part time family member provided support for the registered provider/owner. We also checked the building to ensure it was clean, hygienic and a safe place for people to live.

Updated 27 January 2018

Oakley Care Home in Heysham supports up to three people with mental health needs. It is a mid terraced house with comfortable communal areas and single bedroom accommodation. The home is located close to transport, local facilities and the beach. At the time of our inspection visit there were two people who lived at the home.

There was a registered manager in place who was also the owner. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

At the last inspection in October 2015 the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

Oakley Care Home operated as a family home and the two people who lived there at the time of the inspection visit had done so for a number of years as part of the family unit. One person who lived at the home said, “[Owner] is like a mum to us, especially to me. I feel so much better since coming here.”

Suitable arrangements were in place to protect people from abuse and unsafe care. People at Oakley Care Home and a relative we spoke with told us they felt safe and people were cared for.

The registered provider/owner with part time support from a family member, provided care and guidance for the people who lived at Oakley. No staff had been recruited since the last inspection

We looked around the premises and found it had been maintained, was clean and hygienic and a safe place for people to live. We found equipment had been serviced and maintained as required.

Medicines were managed in line with people’s needs. People had signed to say they would self-medicate with support when required from the provider/owner.

We observed during the inspection visit friendly interactions between the owner and people who lived at the home. We saw the owner was able to communicate well with people they supported and cared for.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. The policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People who lived at Oakley Care Home said meals were of a good standard. They said alternatives were available if they did not like what was being made by the owner. One person commented, “[Owner] is a very good cook.”

We found people had access to healthcare professionals and records were kept of outcomes of visits and what action was taken to meet their healthcare needs.

The service had information with regards to support from an external advocate should this be required by them.

The service had a complaints procedure which was made available to people on their admission to the home and their relatives. The people we spoke with told us they were happy with the service and had no complaints.

The owner was familiar with what support and care people who lived at the home required. People were supported to lead full and varied lives and were supported to form relationships within the local community. One person who lived at the home said, “I enjoy going out to visit [friend]. [Owner] does worry but I am alright and tell her as to where I am going.”

There was no formal internal quality assurance in place but informal checks were made routinely. Everyone talked together daily to discuss any plans or changes and events they wished to attend. Decisions were made as a family unit. One of the people who lived at the home said, “We choose what we want to do. I like the gym and keeping fit so [owner] encourages me.”