• Care Home
  • Care home

The Oaks Care Home

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

15-25 Oaks Drive, Lexden, Colchester, Essex, CO3 3PR (01206) 764469

Provided and run by:
Aurem Care (The Oaks) Limited

Latest inspection summary

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Our current view of the service

Good

Updated 26 June 2025

The assessment was carried out on 9 and 11 July 2025. The Oaks Care Home is registered to provide accommodation, personal and nursing care for up to 61 people who may have a physical disability, living with dementia, autistic people or people with a learning disability or requiring end of life care. At the time of our assessment 32 people lived at the service.

At our last assessment, the provider was in breach of legal regulations in relation to dignity and respect, safe care and treatment, safeguarding service users from abuse and improper treatment, premises and equipment, good governance and staffing. At this assessment we found enough improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of legal regulations.

The service had made significant improvements since the previous assessment. Leadership changes, including the appointment of an interim manager, a deputy manager, a new operations team and a whole team approach had driven improvements. Staff at all levels were now actively involved in the service.

A robust system for investigating and responding to accidents, incidents, complaints and safeguarding concerns was now in place. Potential risks to people had been assessed and reviewed when needed. Oversight of monitoring charts used to monitor risk had improved. There was enough suitably competent staff to meet people’s needs including their preferences for accessing community spaces. Staff were fully aware what equipment people needed. Medicine processes were managed safely. Improvements had been made to the environment with further improvements planned.

The service demonstrated effective partnership working with external professionals to ensure people’s care was effective. People were supported to have maximum 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 observed positive interactions between staff and people using the service and staff treated people with dignity and respect.

Care plans were personalised, reflected people’s care needs, including future plans with regards to end of life care. People were involved in the planning of activities and events at the service. There was an effective system in place to manage concerns and complaints.

This service has been in Special Measures since 28 December 2024. The provider demonstrated improvements that have been made. The service is no longer rated as inadequate overall or in any of the key questions. Therefore, this service is no longer in Special Measures.

 

People's experience of the service

Updated 26 June 2025

People and relatives were overall happy with the improvements made. People told us they felt safe, and staff responded to their requests for support.

People told us they could access the GP if they needed to and that they were supported to see other health professionals if necessary.

Activities and events were available for people to attend if they chose and forums such as residents and relative’s meetings and surveys were available for people to give their feedback. People had developed positive relationships with the staff, who treated them with respect and kindness.

A person told us, “Communication is better now, staff are happier, not working under a cloud. The manager saw so much needed doing, they have been honest, up front, and care standards have improved.” A relative said, “I would recommend it, I know the manager is leaving, they seem to have had a positive impact on morale, they interact with relatives and how they are doing, they care.”