Oak Lodge 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

People using the service were protected from abuse and avoidable harm.

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.

Staff and the provider had a proactive and positive culture of safety, based on openness and honesty. Staff listened to concerns about safety and investigated and reported safety events. Lessons were learnt to continually identify and embed good practice.

Policies and procedures were in place for responding to incidents, accidents and complaints and staff we spoke with were knowledgeable about these. Staff reported safety concerns promptly and appropriately to ensure these were investigated and actions taken where required to reduce risk. Managers regularly reviewed accidents, incidents and safeguarding and shared any learning with staff. A member of staff told us, “There are regular staff meetings where we talk about all areas of people’s care and any concerns.” Records of staff meetings and audits undertaken confirmed this.

The provider worked with people and healthcare partners to establish and maintain safe systems of care, in which safety was managed or monitored. They made sure there was continuity of care, including when people moved between different services.

Assessments of people’s needs, risks and wishes were completed upon admission and regularly reviewed to ensure they were reflective of people’s needs. People felt confident their needs would be met by staff and any health-related details would be shared with health and social care professionals to promote continuity in care. Staff understood the importance of continuity of care and were able to explain to us how they worked closely with people’s relatives and health and social care professionals to ensure their needs were continually met.

The service 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. The service shared concerns quickly and appropriately.

The provider had procedures in place to protect people from abuse. Staff told us they had received training on safeguarding adults from abuse, and they felt confident any concerns they raised would be managed appropriately. One staff member said, “I would report any concerns I had to the manager. I can also report concerns to the local authority safeguarding team or the CQC if I needed to. The provider also has a whistle blowing policy where I can report poor care practice.” A person told us, “I am very independent, and the staff help me to stay that way and I do feel safe.” Another person said, “I feel safe here and I love it.”

Where people needed to be deprived of their liberty to keep them safe, the provider ensured a Deprivation of liberty Safeguard (DoLS) authorisation was applied for through the relevant local authority. All legal applications had been made in accordance with DoLS, this meant people’s rights were fully respected. The home manager had oversight of DoLS applications, authorisations, and any conditions.

The provider worked with people to understand and manage risks by thinking holistically. Staff provided care to meet people’s needs that was safe, supportive and enabled people to do the things that mattered to them.

People and their relatives felt confident staff provided care and support that kept them safe. Comments included, “I have complete confidence in them [staff]”, “I am very independent, and they [staff] help me to stay that way and I do feel safe”, and “I feel safe here and I love it.”

Risks associated with people’s care had been identified, assessed and clearly documented within their plans of care. Risk assessments informed staff of the action they needed to take to reduce risks. Staff provided care that met people’s needs and was safe, supportive and enabled them to do the things that mattered to them.Staff followed care plans and risk assessments where people were assessed at risk of harm. A staff member told us they followed a person’s care plan and advice from a speech and language therapist when they supported a person with eating and drinking safely.

The design of the premises was safe and met people's needs. People had their own bedrooms which they personalised with furniture and belongings. A person using the service told us, “I like my room, its comfortable, its big and I have all the furniture I need.” A relative commented, “We were able to personalise my loved one’s bedroom with their own artwork and colourful fabrics.”

People had access to moving equipment such as wheelchairs, walking aids, and bath and shower equipment. This equipment was regularly checked to make sure it was safe to use. The provider made sure the environment and equipment used was safe and regularly serviced, for example, fire alarm system, portable appliances and gas safety. Checks were undertaken on window restrictors, call bells and regular fire drills were carried out. The provider was making further improvements at the service including developing the garden area so that it would meet people’s physical and wellbeing needs.

The provider made sure there were enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff, who received effective support, supervision and development. We observed there were enough staff deployed throughout the service to meet people’s needs. A person using the service told us, “I think there are enough staff, and they are always there for me when I need them.” The manager showed us a staffing rota and a tool they used to determine staff levels and told us staffing levels were arranged according to the needs of the people using the service.

Robust recruitment procedures were in place. Recruitment records included proof of identification, application forms with employment histories, employment references, health and right to work in the UK checks. We saw evidence that Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks had been carried out.DBS checks provide information including details about convictions and cautions held on the Police National Computer. The information helps employers make safer recruitment decisions.

Staff had the knowledge and skills required to meet people’s needs. The manager told us that all staff had completed an induction in line with the Care Certificate. The Care Certificate is an agreed set of standards that define the knowledge, skills and behaviours expected of specific job roles in the health and social care sectors. We saw a training matrix which indicated that staff had completed training in areas such as living with dementia, mental health awareness, nutrition and hydration, fire safety, basic life support, infection control, medication administration, moving and handling, safeguarding adults, the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). A person using the service said, “The staff are very capable and know exactly what they are doing.”

Staff told us they received regular training and supervision in relation to people’s individual needs. One staff member told us, “The training has been good. I had an induction when I started working here. I think the recent training for the staff team on dementia awareness was helpful as it enhanced our knowledge and improved how we interact and care for people with living with dementia.”

There were systems in place to help prevent and control infections. We saw records from infection control audits carried out by the provider. Training records confirmed that all staff had received training on infection control.

The service appeared clean throughout and free from odours. The provider employed domestic staff to oversee cleaning of the service, we saw them cleaning people’s bedrooms and communal areas. The manager showed us a cleaning schedule, and a domestic staff member told us they followed the schedule to make sure all areas of the service were kept clean and tidy. Staff were provided with personal protective equipment (PPE) when needed. We saw they wore this appropriately. A person using the service told us, “This place is always very clean, and we have had some redecoration lately too.” A relative commented, “The home is clean, and the rooms are lovely.”

The provider made sure that medicines and treatments were safe and met people’s needs, capacities and preferences. People received their medicines safely and as prescribed. A person using the service told us, “There are never any problems with my medicines, I always get them on time.” We saw medicines were administered by trained staff who had completed up-to-date medication competency assessments. Medication administration records (MARs) were completed accurately, with clear signatures and reasons for non-administration were recorded where appropriate. As and when required medication protocols were in place, these included guidance for staff on when to administer these medicines. Medicines were stored securely in locked cabinets and medication trolleys within the service. Controlled Drugs (CDs) were stored in CD cupboards and managed in line with our regulations. Regular audits of medication practices were carried out by the management team. Where issues were identified, action plans were put in place and followed up to completion.