Great Oaks

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. This is the first inspection for this newly registered service. This key question has been rated good. This meant people’s outcomes were consistently good, and people’s feedback confirmed this.

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.

People’s care and support needs were assessed before they started to use the service. The pre-assessment of a person’s needs formed the basis of their care plan. People told us they were happy the service knew exactly what they needed to remain well. Staff had access to information about people’s needs, through the providers electronic care planning system.

People and their relatives told us they were involved in creating care plans and risk assessments. Staff told us they worked with people following good practice guidance, this had included working to support people’s nutritional needs, mental stimulation and wellbeing. Evidence-based care underpinned the policies and procedures within the service, for example, with moving and handling.

People told us the information about their care was shared with relevant professionals. Staff kept detailed records of people’s care and support. The manager and staff had oversight of records and could access details of care as required to share them with external professionals. A health and social care professional told us, “They let us know pretty quickly and all referrals to us are really timely, we are not concerned they have ever left anything too long.” The provider’s electronic care planning system had ensured information about the person and their needs was available if the person went into hospital. Staff told us teamwork at the service was of a high standard, communication was effective and support from the management team was available continually.

People told us they enjoyed the food and drink on offer at Great Oaks. The service had experienced changes in food suppliers and processes, people told us these were working well. People were supported to eat and drink, and staff had clear instructions in place, this included where a person may have difficulty swallowing or needed a modified diet. There were choices and alternatives for people to aid satisfaction. Information about people’s needs was shared efficiently as records were included on the electronic care planning system. Staff told us a morning meeting ensured the staff responsible for food and drink were kept informed of changes. People’s nutrition and hydration needs were known to staff, and plans were in place for each person, this included for specific needs such as weight loss, intolerances, and allergies. Health and social care professionals told us they were satisfied staff were supporting people to live a healthy lifestyle where possible.

People and their relatives shared examples of how their lives had improved since living at Great Oaks. Care plans and risk assessments detailed clear goals and outcomes for people, and this included instructions for staff. Each care and support plan were individual and unique to the person. Staff were confident in the outcomes for the people they supported and gave us examples of how they supported the persons personal goals. People, their relatives and staff told us of many improvements at Great Oaks since our last inspection, these had improved outcomes for all involved.

People told us they were treated with respect and supported to live their lives the way they wished. Where appropriate, relatives had been involved in decisions made on the persons behalf. Consent was sought from people and where necessary in accordance with the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). Decision making was supported by clear policies and processes. The manager and staff understood the principles of the MCA. Records showed consent had been sought for the care provided. Care was planned in the persons best interest in the least restrictive way and in consultation with others. Where people had given a relative or friend the legal authority to act on their behalf in matters such as their health and welfare needs, the correct documentation was in place.