Background to this inspection
Updated
19 March 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 Care Act 2014.
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
This inspection was carried out by two inspectors and an Expert by Experience.
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
Oulton Park Care Centre is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
Notice of inspection
This inspection was unannounced.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed all the information we had received about the service since our previous inspection. We attended meetings with Suffolk County Council and gathered information about concerns they had about people’s safety and welfare.
The provider was not asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.
During the inspection
People using the service were asked if they would like to speak with us but chose not to. We spoke with three relatives of people using the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with nine members of staff including the registered manager, deputy manager, nursing staff and care workers.
We reviewed a range of records. This included seven people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.
Updated
19 March 2022
About the service
Oulton Park Care Centre is a care home registered to provide personal and nursing care to 60 older people across two units.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People told us that they were safe and well cared for in the service. Significant improvements had been made to how risks were identified, planned for, managed and mitigated. This meant people were protected from the risk of potential harm. Medicines were managed, monitored and administered safely.
The environment was safe and appropriate checks were carried out to identify risks in the environment. Infection, prevention and control procedures were implemented effectively across the service.
Improvements had been made to the staffing level and there were now enough staff to provide support to people at the time they needed it.
Since the appointment of a new management team, significant improvements had been made to the management and oversight of the service. Shortfalls were identified and acted upon robustly, and the management team had driven positive improvement across all areas of service provision.
Improvements had been made to the environment and people now had access to sources of meaningful engagement and activity.
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 ‘Inadequate’ (Report published 17 August 2021). At this inspection improvements had been made and the service is no longer in breach of regulations.
This service has been in Special Measures since 17 August 2021. During this inspection the provider demonstrated that improvements have been made. The service is no longer rated as inadequate overall or in any of the key questions. Therefore, this service is no longer in Special Measures.
Why we inspected
The service was rated ‘Inadequate’ at the last inspection and we needed to check whether the improvements had been made.
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.
You can see what action we have asked the provider to take at the end of this full report.
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.