High Oaks

Updated 27 May 2021

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 so we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by two inspectors and an assistant inspector.

Service and service type

High Oaks 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.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. 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.

Notice of inspection

We gave 24-hour notice of the inspection in line with our methodology for IPC (Infection Prevention and Control) assurance inspections. We changed this inspection to a focussed inspection looking at the areas of Safe and Well-led following the start of our inspection.

Inspection activity started on 16 February 2021 and ended on 23 April 2021. We visited the care home on 16 February and 9 April 2021.

What we did before the inspection

We did not review information we had received about the service before this inspection as we were carrying out a IPC assurance visit and did not need to do this.

During the inspection

We spoke with four staff members including the registered manager, the deputy manager, kitchen staff and housekeeping staff. We also spoke with the nominated individual. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider. We completed observations of how staff interacted and spoke with people, and of how the service was running generally.

After the inspection

We spoke with three people’s relatives and six staff, including care and maintenance staff. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the registered manager sent us information and records electronically. We looked at recruitment records for three staff, a range of other records, including four people’s care records and a variety of records relating to the management of the service.

Updated 27 May 2021

About the service

High Oaks is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care. It is registered to accommodate up to 18 people but had 16 people living there on the day of our inspection. People at the service lived with mental health needs. The service accommodates both older and younger people.

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

Staff assessed and reduced most areas of risk, however not all fire doors were safely used. They reported possible abuse and knew what to do to keep people safe. There were enough staff to meet people’s physical and mental health needs. The provider obtained key recruitment checks before new staff started work. People received their medicines and staff knew how these should be given. Staff used protective equipment, such as masks, gloves and aprons, and reduced the risk of transmission of infection as much as possible.

The service was proactive in sharing information with other health and social care partners. The registered manager and Director had implemented a range of assurance systems to monitor the quality and effectiveness of the service provided. This included an annual assessment undertaken by an independent consultant. Systems were in place to seek feedback from people, relatives and health care professionals who used the service as a means to develop and improve service delivery.

The service had a registered manager and people received consistent support from a regular staff team. Staff were positive about the service and the levels of support and training they received. The registered manager was described as supportive and responsive.

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was Good (published 30 May 2018).

Why we inspected

We carried out a targeted inspection to look at the infection control and prevention measures the provider has in place. During the inspection we identified concerns about one person and we therefore changed the inspection to a focused to review the key questions of Safe and Well led.

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 coronavirus and other infection outbreaks effectively.

We reviewed the information we held about the service. No areas of concern were identified in the other key questions. We therefore did not inspect them. Ratings from previous comprehensive inspections for those

key questions were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection.

The overall rating for the service has not changed. This is based on the findings at this inspection.

We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from this concern. Please see the Safe and Well-led sections of this full report.

Follow up

We will return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.

You can see what action we have asked the provider to take at the end of this full report.