Archived: Oakside

Updated 6 December 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.

We inspected the service on the 25 October 2016. This was an unannounced inspection. Two inspectors undertook the inspection.

We reviewed the information we held about the home, including previous inspection reports and the Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form in which we ask the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We contacted the local authority to obtain their views about the care provided. We considered the information which had been shared with us by the local authority and other people, looked at safeguarding alerts which had been made and notifications which had been submitted. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to tell us about by law.

During the inspection we reviewed the records at the home. These included staff files which contained staff recruitment, training and supervision records. Also, medicine records, complaints, accidents and incidents, quality audits and policies and procedures along with information in regards to the upkeep of the premises.

We looked at three care plans and their associated risk assessments along; with other relevant documentation to support our findings. We also ‘pathway tracked’ people living at the home. This is when we looked at their care documentation in depth and how they obtained their care and treatment at the home. It is an important part of our inspection, as it allowed us to capture information about a sample of people receiving care.

During the inspection we spoke with five people and three relatives to seek their views and experiences of the services provided at the home. We also spoke with the registered manager their deputy and four staff.

We observed the care which was delivered in communal areas and spent time observing people in areas throughout the home and were able to see the interaction between people and staff.

Updated 6 December 2016

We inspected Oakside on 25 October 2016. This was an unannounced inspection. Oakside provides accommodation and support for up to 17 people. The service provides care and support to people at risks of falls and long term healthcare needs such as diabetes. On the day of our inspection there were seven people living at the service.

We last inspected Oakside on 29 January 2014 where we found it to be compliant with all areas inspected.

A registered manager was in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

Although people, their relatives and staff spoke positively regarding the leadership of the service, we found senior staff had not established robust systems to enable clear oversight of all areas of the service. For example in relation to record keeping and quality assurance.

People appeared happy and relaxed with staff. There were sufficient staff to support them. When staff were recruited, their employment history was checked, references obtained and induction completed. Checks were also undertaken to ensure new staff were safe to work within the care sector. Staff were knowledgeable and trained in safeguarding and knew what action they should take if they suspected abuse was taking place. Appropriate training was provided to ensure staff were confident to meet people’s needs.

It was clear care staff had spent time with people, getting to know them, gaining an understanding of their personal history and building rapport with them. People were provided with a choice of healthy food and drink ensuring their nutritional needs were met.

People’s needs had been assessed and care plans developed. Care plans contained risk assessments for a wide range of daily living needs. People received the care they required, and staff members were clear on people’s individual needs. Care was provided with kindness and compassion. Staff members were responsive to people’s changing needs. People’s health and wellbeing was monitored and the provider regularly liaised with healthcare professionals for advice and guidance.

Medicines were managed safely in accordance with current regulations and guidance. There were systems in place to ensure that medicines were stored, administered and disposed appropriately.

The CQC monitors the operation of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) which applies to care homes. We found that the manager understood when an application should be made and how to submit one. Where people lacked the mental capacity to make specific decisions the home was guided by the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA).

Although most people chose to remain in their rooms for extended periods of the day they were provided with opportunities to take part in activities ‘in-house’ and to access the local and wider community. People were supported to take an active role in decision making regarding their own daily routines and the general flow of their home.

Staff had a clear understanding of the vision and philosophy of the home and they spoke positively about their work and the leadership.