Archived: Oakdene Residential Care Home

Updated 8 November 2018

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, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This was a comprehensive inspection, which took place on 25 September 2018. The inspection was unannounced and carried out by one inspector 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.

The inspection was informed by information we held about the service. Before the inspection, the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

To help us plan the inspection we also reviewed information we had received about the service from other agencies. We sought the views of the local authority commissioning team. Commissioners are professionals who support people to find appropriate services, which are paid for by the local authority or by a health clinical commissioning group. We also contacted Healthwatch Nottingham, who are an independent organisation that represents people using health and social care services. We received feedback from one social care professional.

During the inspection, we engaged with seven people using the service and spoke to four relatives. Not all the people living or staying at the service were able to communicate verbally. However, we spent time in the company of people and used observations of how staff engaged with people to help us understand people’s experience. We spoke with the registered manager, a team leader, three care staff and a housekeeper. We looked at the care records of three people who used the service. We checked that the care they received matched the information in their records. We also looked at a range of information to consider how the service ensured the quality of the service; these included the management of medicines, staff training records, staff recruitment and support, audits and checks on the safety of the environment, policies and procedures, complaints and meeting records. We also reviewed the services current improvement plan.

Updated 8 November 2018

We inspected the service on 25 September 2018. The inspection was unannounced.

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. Oakdene Residential Care Home accommodates up to 28 adults with a learning disability. The service provides both long term and respite care. On the day of our inspection, eight people were using the service. The service is located close to the centre of Nottingham. The service was in the process of becoming a respite service only. People who lived at the service permanently, were in process of moving into supported living accommodation.

The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.” Registering the Right Support CQC policy.

At the last inspection in May 2015, the service was rated ‘Good’, in all the key questions and at this inspection; we found the service remained ‘Good’ again in all areas. There was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

People who used the service and relatives, were confident staff supported people to remain safe. The provider had safeguarding policies and provided staff with refresher safeguarding training, to support them to protest people from avoidable harm, discrimination and abuse.

Risks associated with people’s needs including the environment, had been assessed and planned for, these were regularly reviewed for any changes to protect people’s safety. Staff were aware of known risks and the action required to manage risks without placing restrictions on people.

There were sufficient skilled and experienced staff deployed sufficiently, to meet people’s care and support needs and safe staff recruitment procedures were in place and used. People received their prescribed medicines safely and these were managed in line with national best practice guidance.

Accidents and incidents were analysed for lessons learnt to reduce further reoccurrence. Staff sought guidance from external health and social care professionals, to support with people’s ongoing care and support needs.

Staff were aware of the prevention and control measures of cross contamination and infection control risks and the environment and care equipment was clean. Staff were provided with relevant equipment, guidance and training in health and safety and infection control. Emergency contingency plans were in place for staff to follow for likely foreseen emergencies to ensure people’s safety.

Staff used nationally recognised assessment tools to effectively meet people’s care and support needs. Staff received an induction, ongoing training and support to ensure their knowledge remained up to date and their competency of high standard.

People were supported with their nutritional needs, food and drink choices were offered and provided. People did not regularly receive snacks, but immediate action was taken by the registered manager to improve the provision of snacks. The staff worked well with external health care professionals to support people with health needs’

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. The principles of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) were followed.

People received care and support from staff who were kind, compassionate and treated them with dignity and respected their privacy. Staff had developed positive relationships with the people they supported, they understood people’s needs, preferences, and what was important to them. Advocacy information was available should people have required this support. People and or their relative or representative, was involved in discussions and decisions about the care and support received.

People’s needs were assessed and support plans provided staff with guidance to enable them to provide a personalised service. Staff had a person centred approach, they supported people with their individual needs and routines in ways that were important to them.

People received opportunities to pursue their interests and hobbies, and social activities were offered. People were also supported to participate in community activities and interests. The provider had made available the complaint procedure and this was provided in an easy read format to support people’s communication needs.

There was an open and transparent culture and good leadership, oversight and accountability. People and relatives or representatives, received opportunities to share their feedback about the service. The provider had quality assurance checks in place on quality and safety. The service was going through a period of change and the registered manager was managing this well and provided people, relatives and staff with support.

Further information is in the detailed findings below