Oakwell House

Updated 19 October 2022

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

One inspector carried out the inspection.

Service and service type

Oakwell House is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Oakwell House is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

At the time of our inspection there was not a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. On 5 July 2022 we completed a Direct Monitoring Assessment with the manager, and we used the information we gathered throughout this assessment. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with five people who use the service about their experience. We spoke with six members of staff including the deputy manager, regional operation manager, senior team leader and support staff. We reviewed a range of records. This included three people's support plans and multiple medicines records. We looked at recruitment checks for three staff members and staff’s training records. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were also reviewed.

Updated 19 October 2022

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.

About the service

Oakwell House is a residential care home providing personal care to six people at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to six people. Oakwell House is a detached house containing five en-suite bedrooms in the main house and an annex with a self-contained flat.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

Right Support:

Staff did not always support people with their medicines in a way people preferred and we found some minor issues about recording of medicines.

People told us they did not always get the right support from staff because they were not always well matched with their designated support workers. People told us staff had not always maintained confidentiality. We raised these concerns with the provider who assured us they had already made efforts to ensure people were supported by their preferred staff, and to ensure staff understood the importance of maintaining confidentiality.

Staff focused on people's strengths and promoted what they could do, so people had a fulfilling and meaningful everyday life. Staff encouraged people to make their own decisions and develop their skills and independence.

People lived in a safe and clean environment that met people's needs. People could make choices and personalise their living space.

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.

Right Care:

People could take part in activities and pursue interests that were tailored to them. Staff promoted equality and diversity in their support for people.

Risks to people's safety and wellbeing were well managed by staff and clearly recorded in people's support plans. Staff understood how to protect people from poor care and abuse and worked well with other agencies to do so.

People's healthcare needs were met. People had a choice of food in line with their needs and preferences.

People were protected by the provider's recruitment processes as appropriate checks were completed; ensuring staff were suitable to work with people who used the service

Right Culture:

The management team promoted a positive culture and effective working relationships within the team and with relevant professionals. This helped people to achieve good outcomes.

The provider demonstrated a good understanding of their legal responsibilities for sharing information with CQC.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 9 July 2021 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This was a planned comprehensive inspection based on the date the service was first registered with us.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.