Archived: Oak House

Updated 1 December 2017

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 inspection took place on the 6 and 7 November 2017, and was unannounced. The inspection team consisted of one inspector.

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. Prior to the inspection we reviewed this and other information we held about the service, we looked at the previous inspection report and notifications received by the Care Quality Commission. A notification is information about important events, which the provider is required to tell us about by law.

We spoke with two people using the service as most of the people in the service were nonverbal; We spent time observing care in the communal areas and used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.

We spoke with the registered manager, six staff members, the provider and a visiting professional. We reviewed four people’s care files. We also looked at quality monitoring, audit information and policies held at the service and the service’s staff support records for the members of staff.

Updated 1 December 2017

This inspection took place on the 6 and 7 November 2017 and was unannounced. The inspection team consisted of one inspector.

Oak House provides accommodation and personal care without nursing for up to 13 persons who may be living with dementia. At the time of our inspection 13 people were living at the service.

The service has a registered 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 a legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

At the last inspection, the service was rated Good, at this inspection, we found the service remained Good overall.

The service was safe. The provider’s recruitment processes ensured that appropriate checks were carried out before staff commenced employment. There were sufficient numbers of staff on duty to meet the needs of people and keep them safe from potential harm or abuse. People’s health and wellbeing needs were assessed and reviewed to minimise risk to health. The service had a good management and monitoring structure in place for medication.

The service was effective. People were cared for and supported by staff who had received training to meet their needs. The staff had a good understanding of their responsibilities in relation to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. People were supported to eat and drink enough as to ensure they maintained a balanced diet and referrals to health and social care services was made when required.

The service was caring. Staff cared for people in an empathetic and kind manner. Staff had a good understanding of people’s preferences. Staff always worked to promote people’s independence through encouraging and supporting people in their individual abilities.

The service was responsive. People and their relatives were involved in the planning and review of their care. Care plans were reviewed on a regular basis and were updated if changes to people’s needs was found. People were supported to follow their interests and participate in social activities. The service had a robust complaints procedure in place.

The service was Well Led. The service had systems in place to monitor and provide good care and these were reviewed on a regular basis. The provider told us that current systems and processes were being updated to ensure improvements to the service would be made in a timely way.