Oaklands

Updated 18 November 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 1 inspector, with another contacting relatives and professionals for their feedback.

Service and service type

Oaklands 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. Oaklands 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 was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed the information we held about the service and the service provider. 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. We looked at the notifications and any safeguarding alerts we had received for this service. Notifications are information about important events the service is required to send us by law. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 5 people who used the service along with 5 staff members. This included the registered manager and deputy manager. We spent time observing people in areas throughout the service and could see the interaction between people and staff. We reviewed a range of records. This included people's care records and medication records. We case tracked 2 people and looked at 3 staff files in relation to the recruitment practice followed. Records relating to the management of the service were also reviewed, this included, health and safety records, quality audits and notes of meetings. We contacted and received feedback from 3 relatives and 2 visiting professionals.

Updated 18 November 2023

About the service

Oaklands is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care to 5 people with learning disabilities, autism, and other support needs, including mental health illness. The service is registered for 6 people but can only accommodate up to 5.due facilities available.

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.

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

Right Support:

Staff supported people's strengths and promoted what they could do for themselves. They understood the importance of people being as independent as possible, and the fulfilment this gave people. People were supported to be busy and to have active lives that included life activities and social events.

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. People's health needs were monitored, and people were supported to ensure they received health care when needed. People received their medicines in line with prescription guidelines.

Right Care:

People received kind and compassionate care. A relative said, “He flourishes at Oaklands I know he is safe I think it is just wonderful.” Another said, “I think the care staff are great they are very kind and caring.” Staff protected and respected people's privacy and dignity. People’s rooms were respected as people’s own space and the house was seen as their home.

There were enough staff to meet people's needs and wishes. Emphasis had been placed on ensuring that staff had the skills, knowledge, and experience to meet people's needs. Training had included specific courses on learning disability and autism. Staff knew people well and responded to all their individual needs. They understood what triggered people's anxiety and how to support them during times of distress.

Each person had a key worker who they had formed positive and supportive relationships with. Choices were provided to people in relation to their day-to-day support and how they wanted to spend their time. Recreational and social events were an important part of people's lives and given a high priority.

Right Culture:

The registered manager had established a positive and inclusive environment where people and staff felt valued and listened to. They and the staff team demonstrated a commitment to the values of the service that put people at the centre of all care and support provided.

People's relatives felt that there was good communication, and they were kept informed and could contact the service if they had anything they wanted to discuss.

Staff spoke positively about the management team, and the support they received. One staff member said, "I am very well supported by the management they are very good. They have also supported my development, including further vocational training.”

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

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was good (published 15 December 2016).

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service. 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.

For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating. The overall rating for the service remains good.

Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.

Follow up

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