Archived: Oakwood House Care Home

Updated 17 June 2016

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 unannounced inspection took place on 17 May 2016. It was undertaken by two inspectors.

Before the inspection, the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We looked at this and information we hold about the service. Before our inspection we looked at all the information we held about the service including notifications. A notification is information about events that the registered persons are required, by law, to tell us about. We made contact with the local authority contract monitoring officer to aid with our planning of this inspection.

During our inspection we spoke with eight people and five relatives. We also spoke with the manager, deputy manager, nurse, chef, three care staff and an activities co-ordinator. Throughout the inspection we observed how the staff interacted with people who lived in the service.

We looked at four people’s care records. We also looked at records relating to the management of the service including staff training and supervision records, audits, and meeting minutes. We also looked at records for complaints, suggestions and compliments.

Updated 17 June 2016

Oakwood House Care Home provides accommodation, nursing and personal care for up to 50 people, some of whom were living with dementia. Accommodation is provided over two floors. There were a number of communal areas for people and their visitors to use. There were 33 people living at the home on the day of our inspection.

There was a registered manager in place. However, they were currently not working at the home. They had taken up another role within the organisation. The deputy manager was acting as the manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

This unannounced inspection took place on 17 May 2016.

Systems were in place to ensure that people’s needs were met effectively and safely. Staff were aware of the procedures for reporting concerns and protecting people from harm. Staff were only employed after the provider had carried out satisfactory pre-employment checks. Staff were trained and were well supported by their managers. There were sufficient staff to meet people’s assessed needs.

The CQC monitors the operations of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) which applies to care services. People’s rights to make decisions about their care were respected. Where people were assessed as not having the mental capacity to make decisions, they had been supported in the decision making process. DoLS applications were in progress and had been submitted to the authorising body.

People’s health, care and nutritional needs were effectively met. Staff were aware of people’s dietary needs. Staff referred people appropriately to healthcare professionals. People received their prescribed medicines appropriately and medicines were stored in a safe way.

People received care and support from staff who were kind, caring and respectful. Staff respected people’s privacy and dignity. People, their relatives, staff and other professionals were encouraged to express their views on the service that was provided.

Care plans contained all of the relevant information that staff required to meet people’s needs. People could therefore be confident that they would receive the care and support that they needed. Changes to people’s care was kept under review to ensure that the care and support provided was effective. Staff supported people to take part in hobbies, interests and activities of their choice. There was a varied programme of activities available to people.

The manager was supported by a deputy, care staff and ancillary staff. The manager ran the home very well and people, relatives and staff confirmed that the manager was approachable. People’s views were listened to and acted on.