CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Five Oaks
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that the home used PPE safely, carried out testing, followed social distancing arrangements and had an up-to-date infection prevention and control policy. The provider also described measures to manage COVID-19-related staffing pressures.
- Effective?
- Good
- Does the care work? Training, consent, food and drink, working with GPs and nurses.
- Caring?
- Good
- Are people treated with kindness and dignity?
- Responsive?
- Good
- Is care built around the person? Care plans, activities, complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Is the home run well? The manager, the culture, how problems get found and fixed.
What inspectors found, March 2022
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found strong COVID-19 infection control and no concerns about its management.
This was an announced, targeted inspection about infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and staffing pressures during the COVID-19 pandemic. The home provided care for up to 43 older people and had 39 people living there.
Inspectors found that infection control was prioritised. The home was clean and uncluttered, communal areas allowed social distancing, PPE was readily available and people were tested regularly. Arrangements were in place to isolate people and support them in their rooms when needed.
Visitors were screened, had their temperature checked and were given a rapid lateral flow test. Inspectors were assured that the home was following infection control guidance and said they had no concerns about how COVID-19 was managed.
The service was inspected but not rated. This report does not provide an overall quality rating or ratings for the other areas of care.
Infection control
The home had clear infection control arrangements, including cleaning, PPE, testing and isolation processes.
“We were assured that this service met good infection prevention and control guidelines and had no concerns regarding the management of COVID-19.” from the report
Clean and suitable environment
The building was clean and uncluttered. Communal areas were arranged to support social distancing.
“The building was clean and free from clutter. The environment was conducive to social distancing.” from the report
Visiting arrangements
The home took steps to reduce infection risks for visitors while facilitating visits in line with guidance.
“Visitors were asked a series of screening questions, had their temperature checked on arrival and were subject to rapid lateral flow testing.” from the report
Staffing continuity
The use of agency staff was limited, with regular agency staff used to support the rota.
“The use of agency staff was minimal and only regular agency staff were used to support the rota.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What infection prevention and control arrangements are in place now, and when was the policy last reviewed?
- 02How are visitors currently screened and tested before entering the home?
- 03How would you support my relative if they needed to isolate in their room?
- 04Are there currently any staffing pressures linked to COVID-19 or other absences?
- 05How do you make sure agency staff are familiar with residents and the home's infection control procedures?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; the service was inspected but not rated and the other areas were not assessed in this report. This explanation was written from the published report of 2 March 2022 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
What inspectors found, December 2019
Five Oaks was rated Good; inspectors found kind, personalised care, but wanted the fire evacuation plan tested and funeral arrangements recorded in more detail.
This was an unannounced planned inspection on 3 December 2019. Two inspectors and an expert by experience spoke with people, relatives, staff and healthcare professionals. They reviewed care records, staff files, medicines, training and quality checks.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines systems, detailed care plans, kind staff and a clean, well-maintained environment.
There were two areas for improvement. Fire drills had not recently taken place during the day and night, so inspectors recommended getting advice about whether the evacuation plan was practical. They also said personalised details about funeral arrangements needed further development.
The overall rating stayed Good. The previous inspection, published in June 2017, also rated the home Good.
Safe medicines and infection control
Medicines were stored, administered and checked safely. Inspectors also found the home exceptionally clean and saw good infection control practices.
“The service was exceptionally clean and well maintained, and there were appropriate procedures to ensure any infection control risks were minimised.” from the report
Personalised care
Care plans recorded people's needs, abilities, life histories and preferences. Staff showed good knowledge of the people they supported.
“People had detailed, personalised care plans. Their needs, abilities, life history, and preferences were well documented.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
People said staff were friendly and caring. Inspectors saw warm communication and support for privacy, dignity and independence.
“We observed staff communication with all residents was warm and friendly.” from the report
Activities and relationships
People could take part in activities, events and trips that matched their interests. The home also supported contact with families and friends.
“The service employed two activity organisers who developed individual activity plans with people about what they wanted to do and how they preferred to spend their day.” from the report
Fire evacuation testing
needs fixingFire drills had not recently taken place during the day and night. Inspectors recommended advice be sought to make sure the evacuation plan was practical.
“It was not clear if the service's fire evacuation procedure was entirely practical as fire drills had not recently taken place.” from the report
Funeral preferences
minorEnd of life care was found to be good, but the home needed to record more personalised details about funeral arrangements.
“However personalised details of funeral arrangements needed to be further developed which we discussed with the registered manager.” from the report
Food choices
minorMost people enjoyed the food and were offered choices, but some people felt the choices were limited.
“Most people told us they really enjoyed the food at the service and were offered choices, however some people felt choices were limited.” from the report
- 01When was the last daytime and night-time fire evacuation drill, and what changes were made as a result?
- 02How will you record and update my relative's personal funeral and end of life preferences?
- 03How can residents influence the menu, especially if they feel the food choices are limited?
- 04What other ways do you use to gather feedback from residents and relatives now that survey response rates were low?
- 05How do you check that staffing levels continue to match residents' changing needs?
This was an unannounced planned inspection covering all five CQC questions, and the previous Good ratings from June 2017 remained unchanged. This explanation was written from the published report of 19 December 2019 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
Every inspection of Five Oaks
4 rated inspections over 5 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- March 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- December 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2015Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 27 January 2011.
Ratings and report dates from the Care Quality Commission, Open Government Licence v3.0. A home can also be visited without a new rating being published, so the timeline shows published inspections.
Weigh the report against the rest
Fees, photos and reviews from families
How to read CQC ratings and reports
What to check when you visit
At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Enfield
These are self-employed carers on PrimeCarers, the introductory agency that runs this directory. Each has a profile with their own rates and reviews from families, and you choose who to talk to.
Most charge £980 to £1,260 a week. 79 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“Over the time he spent with them he got to know our parents very well and became like part of the family, even joining in family celebrations.”
“Charity would take Nan on holidays day trips and shopping adventures”
Every carer has had an enhanced DBS check in the last 18 months, ID and right-to-work checks and an online interview. Their skills and training are for you to check with them. Carers set their own rates, and who is free changes week to week.