Oulton Manor

Updated 22 July 2023

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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

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 we can share with other services.

Inspection team

This inspection was carried out by 3 inspectors, a medicines 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.

Service and service type

Oulton Manor is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Oulton Manor is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced. Inspection activity started on 23 June 2023 and ended on 5 July 2023. We visited the service on 29 June 2023.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service including Healthwatch. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England. The provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

During the inspection

We spoke with 10 people using the service and 5 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We observed care in the communal areas to help us understand the experience of people. We spoke with 9 members of staff including the registered manager, deputy manager, care staff and the area manager. We reviewed a range of records. This included 9 people's care plans, risk assessments and associated information. We also reviewed multiple medication records. We looked at 3 staff files in relation to recruitment. A variety of records relating to the management of the service were also reviewed.

Updated 22 July 2023

About the service

Oulton Manor is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care for up to 77 older people. At the time of our inspection there were 63 people using the service. Oulton Manor is a purpose built home and accommodates people over three floors. People living on the ground floor require support with residential care needs. The first and second floors support people with more complex needs including people who are living with dementia.

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

People were safe because systems were in place to make sure risks to people were assessed and actions taken to mitigate the risk. Some documentation in relation to risk required further update and development but the management team were aware of this and were in the process of addressing it. Medicines were usually managed safely with the only issue we found being addressed during our visit.

There were enough staff to keep people safe. People said they did not have to wait when they called for support at any time of day or night. The registered manager was addressing existing staff shift patterns to further improve outcomes for people.

People benefitted from living in a very pleasant, spacious and safe environment. People were protected from the spread of infection because good systems and processes were in place. All people and relatives we engaged with spoke very positively about the staff who cared for them. People felt involved in their care and we saw staff to be extremely caring and attentive. People gave us examples of staff going the extra mile for them.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

All people, relatives and staff we engaged with spoke very positively about the new registered manager. One relative said they had “installed a change in the fundamental ethos” of the service and a member of staff said, “Working here has improved a heck of a lot. I hope (registered manager) is here to stay.”

Auditing had been used effectively to identify and address issues, whilst some areas needed further improvement, we were confident that these were being addressed. People, their relatives and staff felt involved in the service and there were systems in place to promote this involvement. This included a resident’s committee, regular meetings and various opportunities to provide feedback.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 30 December 2022) and there were breaches of regulation. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

Why we inspected

We undertook this focused inspection to check they had followed their action plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to the Key Questions safe and well-led which contain those requirements.

For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating. The overall rating for the service has changed from requires improvement to good. This is based on the findings at this inspection.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.