CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Oak House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, December 2017
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with some building safety work still being followed up.
The inspection visit took place on 7 November 2017 and was given short notice. One inspector looked at all four people's support plans, medicines, risk assessments, staffing records and the building. The inspector also spoke with people, staff, the manager and a family member, and observed how people were supported.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough trained staff, safe medicines systems, good healthcare support and warm relationships. People were involved in choices about their care, food, activities and contact with family and friends.
The home had been rated Good in every area at the previous inspection in June 2015. Inspectors said this good practice had been sustained. They also noted some building safety work being monitored, including a bathroom lock and fire safety work.
Positive culture
Inspectors described a welcoming home with clear values. Staff worked as a team and were positive about supporting people.
“Oak House had a well understood, positive and open culture, with a clear set of values and ethos.” from the report
Individual risk support
Risks were assessed in ways that considered both physical and emotional needs. Staff helped people manage health risks and avoid unnecessary distress.
“People were kept safe because the service identified potential risks and put in place support to reduce or mitigate risks to the person, supporting them in ways that met their psychological as well as physical needs.” from the report
Skilled staff
Staff received training for complex needs, including autism, mental health, cerebral palsy and epilepsy. Inspectors saw staff using this knowledge in practice.
“People were supported by skilled and knowledgeable staff who knew them well and could meet their needs.” from the report
Choice and independence
People helped shape their care and daily activities. Staff supported people to make choices, build skills and exercise their rights.
“People were encouraged to have a say in the way their care was provided, and also in how the service was run.” from the report
Good oversight
The home used regular audits, incident reviews and action plans to monitor quality and safety. Records were kept securely.
“The service had regular audits and spot checks carried out by the registered manager, and from other senior managers within the organisation.” from the report
Bathroom lock
needs fixingInspectors found that a bathroom needed a lock that could be opened from outside in an emergency. A replacement lock had been ordered at the time of the inspection.
“recent audits had identified a new lock was needed to ensure a bathroom could be locked from the inside but opened from the outside in an emergency.” from the report
Fire safety work
needs fixingSome electrical and fire safety work was still being tracked through an action plan, including work to a fire door and loft hatch.
“This had included some electric and fire work needed, such as the adjustment of a fire door and fire protection in a loft hatch.” from the report
- 01Has the bathroom lock been replaced, and how is it checked for emergency access?
- 02Has the fire door been adjusted and the loft hatch fire protection completed?
- 03How will you help my relative communicate privately if they cannot easily speak with inspectors or staff?
- 04How are my relative's care plan, goals and daily activity choices reviewed with them?
- 05What one-to-one staffing will be available when my relative wants to go out or take part in activities?
This was an inspection of all five quality areas, but the inspector could not always speak privately with everyone because some people needed support and reassurance before talking. This explanation was written from the published report of 15 December 2017 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 Oak House
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- December 2017Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2014
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 14 April 2014.
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.
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28 live-in carers within about an hour of West Sussex
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 £1,020 to £1,170 a week. 23 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
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.