Oak House

On this page

• Overview
• Assessing needs
• Delivering evidence-based care and treatment
• How staff, teams and services work together
• Supporting people to live healthier lives
• Monitoring and improving outcomes
• Consent to care and treatment

Effective – this means we looked for evidence that people’s care, treatment and support achieved good outcomes and promoted a good quality of life, based on best available evidence.

At our last assessment we rated this key question good. At this assessment the rating has remained good.

This meant people’s outcomes were consistently good, and people’s feedback confirmed this.

This service scored 79 (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 always made sure people’s care and treatment was effective by thoroughly assessing and reviewing their health, care, wellbeing and communication needs with them.

Staff were focused on people’s needs and wishes and ensured assessments were completed in partnership with them or their representatives. One health professional told us, “When I visit people are happy, calm and everyone is prepared. People appear to know ahead what to expect.” Support plans detailed where people had been involved in assessment and reviews evidencing their choices and wishes. Staff were consistently supporting people in line with their wishes. The registered manager told us how they were focussed on ensuring people’s needs and wishes were fully incorporated into the online care record system they were in the process of implementing.

Staff knew people and their communication methods extremely well. For example, they responded proactively and used known prompts and phrases to support people. Prompts included using shorter sentences and providing information in smaller amounts which ensured people had time to process and understand the information. Support plans gave staff clear information and guidance about the person’s health, wellbeing and communication needs. Family members were aware of people’s care plans and said they had been able to contribute to them. This helped to make sure people’s care plans were truly reflective of people’s needs and preferences which enabled staff to provide individual care and support.

The provider planned and delivered people’s care and treatment with them, including what was important and mattered to them. They did this in line with legislation and current evidence-based good practice and standards. Staff received training to make sure their practice was in accordance with up-to-date best practice guidelines and legislation. The staff used recognised assessment tools to assess people’s healthcare needs. People had their nutritional needs assessed by speech and language therapists and received meals in line with recommendations made by these professionals.

The provider worked well across teams and services to support people. They made sure people only needed to tell their story once by sharing their assessment of needs when people moved between different services. People were supported to live a healthy life, and professionals were engaged in reviews and assessments to ensure relevant information was incorporated into people’s care plans. Health professionals told us the team at Oak House acted promptly to seek support when they observed changes in a person’s health, “The team responded quickly to deterioration and sought further support accordingly.”

Staff were very complimentary about how leaders and their colleagues worked together. Comments included, “We work well as a team here.” And “I like working with the team we really get on and work well with each other.”

The provider supported people to manage their health and wellbeing to maximise their independence, choice and control. Staff supported people to live healthier lives and where possible, reduce their future needs for care and support. We heard how people’s physical health and mental health had been improved by action staff had taken. For example, people were supported with regular physical exercise sessions to help maintain mobility. Staff promoted people’s mental wellbeing with individualised support strategies which included effective communication which were in accordance with agreed support plans.

Relatives were consistently positive about the support people received from the team at Oak House. One told us, “[Loved one] is looked after really well.”

The provider routinely monitored people’s care and treatment to continuously improve it. They ensured that outcomes were positive and consistent, and that they met both clinical expectations and the expectations of people themselves. Relatives told us they thought the dedication and commitment of staff and oversight of the registered manager, meant people had positive outcomes. They spoke of how the registered manager and staff were in regular contact and kept them up to date. Records of care confirmed staff monitored peoples care and took prompt action when any changes were noted.

The provider told people about their rights around consent and respected these when delivering person-centred care and treatment. People made their own choices and decisions on a day-to-day basis about what they did, what they ate and how they filled their time. Where people were not able to verbally communicate their choices, the staff used agreed communication techniques to make sure people were able to express their wishes. Our observations confirmed staff respecting people’s choices and decisions. Where people lacked the mental capacity to make decisions for themselves, decisions were made in their best interests in accordance with the Mental Capacity Act. Records were detailed and showed how these decisions had been made and who had been involved.