The Oaks Care Home

On this page

• Overview
• Learning culture
• Safe systems, pathways and transitions
• Safeguarding
• Involving people to manage risks
• Safe environments
• Safe and effective staffing
• Infection prevention and control
• Medicines optimisation

Safe – this means we looked for evidence that people were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. At the last inspection we rated this key question requires improvement. At this inspection the rating has changed to good. This meant people were safe and protected from avoidable harm.

This service scored 69 (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 encouraged a positive culture of safety, based on openness and complete honesty. Staff actively listened to concerns about safety and thoroughly investigated and reported safety events. Staff understood how to raise concerns and felt confident doing so, and told us concerns were taken seriously and addressed promptly. One staff member said, “I've been involved in service improvement by taking initiative in my own role and contributing to incident reviews. My suggestions are used, and I feel involved in looking at how well the service works and where lessons can be learned.” However, this learning was not always recorded. The provider recognised they needed to capture this information.

Systems were in place to ensure safe care pathways and transitions. The staff and management team worked with people and healthcare partners to establish and maintain safe systems of care, in which safety was managed or monitored. A staff member said, “Everyone is involved in developing care plans and risk strategies. This is through our communication with professionals, management, and key workers and discussions with people and their families.”

Staff worked with people and healthcare partners to understand what being safe meant to them and the best way to achieve that. They concentrated on improving people’s lives while protecting their right to live in safety, free from bullying, harassment, abuse, discrimination, avoidable harm and neglect. Staff understood safeguarding procedures and described concerns being acted on appropriately and within expected timescales. Staff understood when Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) authorisations would need to be sought and what to do if there were conditions imposed.

Staff worked with people to understand and manage risks by thinking holistically. They provided care to meet people’s needs that was safe, supportive and enabled people to do the things that mattered to them. Staff took a balanced and proportionate approach to risk, which supported people and respected their choices. A staff member said, “Risks to individuals are managed effectively, and there are clear procedure to identify, assess and respond effectively at the appropriate levels.” Risk assessments were in place and assisted staff to identify how to mitigate risks. However there tended to be a wide range of risk assessments covering the issues in relation to the same topic, such as oral health. The volume of assessments and overlaps could lead to staff overlooking significant risks. The provider undertook to review and streamline the risk assessments.

The provider detected and controlled potential risks in the care environment. Environmental risks were assessed and addressed. They made sure equipment, facilities and technology supported the delivery of safe care and worked with external professionals to review people’s aids. The staff team knew who to contact when people might benefit from additional aids or equipment. Staff were trained to use any equipment people needed.

The provider made sure there were enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff, who received effective support, supervision and development. They worked together well to provide safe care that met people’s individual needs. People confirmed there were always enough staff on duty. A staff member said, “The workload is generally manageable. Members of staff work as a team to ensure tasks are completed without too much stress; while delivering good standard care to service users. Although, there are times when a member of staff call in sick the management swiftly put it up for cover by any available staff or Agency staff just to ensure service users are given appropriate attention.” Recruitment practices and training levels met the required standards. Since the last inspection the provider has ensured the correct recruitment information was always obtained. They had employed a lawyer to assist them follow correct recruitment procedures, including those for their sponsorship scheme.

Staff assessed and managed the risk of infection. They detected and controlled the risk of it spreading and shared concerns with appropriate agencies promptly. Staff appropriately followed the required infection control guidelines. They supported people to adopt good hygiene practices.

Staff made sure that medicines and treatments were safe and met people’s needs, capacities and preferences. They followed Stopping Over‑Medication of People with a Learning Disability, Autism or both (STOMP) principles. Staff who administered medicines had the appropriate training and competency checks. Storage areas were secure, and temperature checks were recorded. Medication Administration Records were accurate, and controlled drugs were handled in line with regulations. If audits identified any gaps, such as too much stock, action plans were implemented to address them, and staff were reminded of best practice. These practices ensured staff managed medicines safely.