We carried out a review of the data available to us about Oak View on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Oak View, you can give feedback on this service.
Oak View is a 'care home'. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
Oak View provides services for adults with a learning disability and autism; it is registered to provide support for five adults and at the time of the inspection three people lived in the home. The home is a semi-detached house and in keeping with the surroundings. Staff were discouraged from wearing uniforms that would identify it as a care while they supported people.
The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support, by promoting choice, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.
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.
Thorough recruitment and staff induction was in place to ensure staff were suitable to work and provide support within the home. Staff worked across all U&I Care Ltd services so that they get to know everyone receiving support.
Care and support was delivered on an individual basis and the people decided their daily routines. Care, support and activities were planned around individual likes and dislikes. People were encouraged to participate in activities which were meaningful to them. People were given opportunities to experience new activities with varying degrees of success.
We found people were supported to connect with other people using the U&I Care Limited services to avoid social isolation. People also attended events at community activities, social clubs and discos. One person living in the home was part of a local sports team and attending training. The time spent engaging with these activities was dependent on people's preferences and well-being at the time.
People told us they felt safe. People’s responses and interactions showed us that they felt comfortable with the staff members supporting them. The service worked hard to promote inclusivity and people’s diversity was embraced, staff demonstrated this with their knowledge of how people communicated.
Staff were aware of verbal triggers and responses that would demonstrate if people were feeling anxious. Staff supported people to make their needs and wishes known, and what worked best to ensure they had a good day.
Recent changes to the management structure were seen as a positive move and supported clear lines of accountability. We considered that this would help with issues we had identified at the last inspection regarding robust planning and review, overview, record-keeping and governance to support consistent safety and quality of care.
Staff told us they were proud to work for U&I Care Limited. There were processes in place for staff to access support at any time and we were told by staff they felt supported by the management team. Records clearly showed that staff received formal supervision, appraisal and regular training.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection (and update)
The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 03 May 2018) and there were two breaches of regulation. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.
Oak View is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
Oak View is registered to accommodate up to five people. At the time of the inspection there were four people living at the service, however only one person was receiving a regulated activity. The service is situated in a residential area of Warrington and is modelled on a domestic type setting, with bedrooms on the first floor and communal areas on the ground floor.
Oak View has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.
There was a manager in post who had been registered with the CQC since December 2016. At the time of the inspection however, the registered manager was not available.
A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
During the inspection we identified breaches of Regulation 12 and 17 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. This was because the registered provider had failed to ensure that water temperatures were within safe limits to prevent people from scalding themselves. The registered provider had also failed to carry out routine checks to ensure the water system was free from harmful bacteria. Quality monitoring systems had failed to identify issues that had been picked up by the inspection process which showed they were not fully effective.
You can see what action we told the provider to take at the back of the full version of the report.
During the inspection we identified that deprivation of liberty safeguards were not always in place as required. We have made a recommendation around this.
During the inspection we identified that processes were not in place with regards to one person’s PRN (‘as required’) medication. We have made a recommendation around this.
Medication stocks were being monitored to ensure the correct quantities were being stored. These were kept securely in a locked room. We observed staff administered medication and found that they did so in a competent and professional manner. This helped ensure people were given their medication in an appropriate manner.
People were protected from the risk of abuse. Staff had received training in safeguarding and knew how to report any concerns they may have. The registered provider had a robust recruitment process in place which helped ensure that staff working at Oak View were of good character.
Where required people had been supported to access their GP or other health professionals to help ensure their wellbeing.
There were sufficient numbers of staff in post to meet people’s needs. We reviewed rotas which showed that there were consistent members of staff in post within the service.
Training was in place to ensure staff had the skills and knowledge they needed to carry out their role effectively. Some staff were also in the process of achieving further qualifications, which helped them to develop professionally.
People were treated with dignity and respect. People and staff had developed a good rapport which was evident in their interactions with each other. Staff had a good knowledge of the people they supported and their individual needs.
Staff had access to detailed and up-to-date information on people’s needs. Care records contained information about people’s physical and mental health needs, and were reviewed on a regular basis to ensure they remained up-to-date. This meant that staff had the information they required to provide people with the appropriate level of support.
There were activities in place for people to engage in which helped protect them from the risk of social isolation.