Archived: The Oakes Care Centre

Updated 10 June 2021

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of CQC’s response to care homes with outbreaks of COVID-19, we are conducting reviews to ensure that the Infection Prevention and Control practice was safe and the service was compliant with IPC measures. This was a targeted inspection looking at the IPC practices the provider has in place.

This inspection took place on 26 May 2021 and was announced.

Updated 10 June 2021

The inspection of The Oakes Care Centre took place on 27 September, 4 October 2018 and 1 November 2018. We previously inspected the service on 27 and 31 July 2017; we rated the service requires improvement. The service was not in breach of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 regulations at that time.

The Oakes Care Centre 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. The Oakes Care Centre accommodates a maximum of 60 people; there are accommodation and communal areas located on both the ground and first floor. The home provides care and support to people who are assessed as having personal care and support needs. The first floor provides accommodation specifically for people living with dementia. There were 58 people living at the home at the time of the inspection.

The service had a registered manager in place. 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.

People told us they felt safe. Risks were assessed and actions taken to reduce the risk of future harm. Regular servicing and internal checks were completed to ensure the premises and equipment were safe and maintained. The home was clean and odour free.

There were systems in place to reduce the risk of employing staff who may not be suitable to work with vulnerable people. People, relatives and staff felt there were sufficient staff on duty to meet people’s needs.

Medicines were stored and administered safely by staff who had received appropriate training. Although we identified some improvements needed to be made to staffs recording of the application of creams.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible.

Staff had the skills and knowledge to enable them to provide effective care. New staff received an induction and there was a programme of on-going training and supervision in place.

Feedback about the food was positive. We saw people were provided with regular drinks and snacks. There was a range of options for people to choose from for breakfast and both the lunch and tea time meal.

There were systems in place to ensure relevant information was communicated within the staff team. Staff supported people to access healthcare services when their needs changed.

The registered manager and each of the staff we spoke with were clearly committed to ensuring each person received a service which was caring and respected their individual values. A culture of treating people with dignity and respect was evident from staff in all roles.

The home had a well-being co-ordinator who ensured people were offered a variety of activities and trips out.

Before people moved into the home, an assessment was completed to ensure the home could meet the person’s needs. Care plans were detailed and person centred although care plans were not always updated to reflect information recorded in the review section.

People and relatives were aware of how to complain. We saw evidence complaints were listened to and responded to.

There were systems in place to ensure people received appropriate support as they neared the end of their life.

Feedback from people, relatives and staff regarding the management of the home was positive. The registered manager was clear in their desire to provide a high quality service to people, ensuring staff felt valued and empowered.

There were systems and processes in place to continually monitor the service people received and to gain feedback from people and the relatives.

The registered manager had developed a good working relationship within the community, with an NHS health care provider and the local hospice.