Updated 12 April 2023
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
The inspection was carried out by two inspectors. An Expert by Experience contacted relatives and friends to ask them about their views about the service. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.
Service and service type
Oak House Care Home 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. Oak House Care Home 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 provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.
At the time of our inspection there were two registered managers in post. One of the registered managers was one of the providers, who was on leave at the time of our visit and therefore not spoken with as part of this inspection.
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.
We used all this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
During our visit the home was having the lift refurbished and the main communal lounge was being decorated. This meant only 5 people were being supported in the small communal lounge on the ground floor and everybody else was being supported in their rooms. We spent time observing care and support in the small lounge and visited all the people in their rooms. We observed how staff interacted with people who used the service.
We spoke with 5 people to ask their views and with 3 visiting relatives.
We spent time with the registered manager, care manager, deputy manager and area manager during the inspection and spoke with 8 staff, which included, care staff, activities coordinator, maintenance, housekeeping and the cook.
We looked at the care records for 4 people. We checked the care they received matched the information in their records. We looked at a variety of records relating to the management of the service and a sample of the electronic medicine’s administration records.
The expert by experience contacted 6 relatives to ask them about their views of the service.
We contacted 2 health and social care professionals to ask their views and received a response from 1 of them.