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.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured about infection prevention and control, including PPE, testing, admissions, cleaning, social distancing and managing outbreaks.
- Effective?
- Good
- This question was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This question was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This question was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- This question was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
What inspectors found, December 2020
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection-control arrangements during a targeted COVID-19 review.
Inspectors visited the home on 15 December 2020. This was an announced, targeted inspection focused on infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic.
They found good practice in visiting arrangements, cleaning, use of personal protective equipment, testing, shielding and social distancing. People were also supported to keep in touch with relatives and to access the community safely.
The inspectors said they were assured that the home had suitable infection-control measures in place. The service was inspected but not rated, so this report does not give an overall quality rating.
Visiting arrangements
The home had a visiting policy shared with relatives. Visits were booked and the visiting area was sanitised between visits.
“A visiting policy and procedure was in place which had been shared with relatives.” from the report
Keeping people connected
When visits were restricted, people could use video and telephone calls to stay in contact with loved ones.
“When visits had been restricted other methods were used to ensure people continued to have contact with their loved ones such as, video and telephone calls.” from the report
Cleaning and hygiene
Inspectors found the environment clean, with extra cleaning and specialist equipment used to reach difficult areas.
“The environment was clean and additional cleaning had been implemented to lower the risk of cross transmission.” from the report
Community access
People continued to access the community, with risk assessments intended to support their safety.
“People continued to be supported to access the community to maintain their emotional wellbeing.” from the report
Staff support
Managers supported staff during periods of anxiety, and an internal wellbeing service was available.
“Staff were supported by the registered manager and deputy manager during periods of anxiety” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are visiting arrangements, PPE requirements and cleaning between visits managed now?
- 02How do you currently test people using the service and staff, and what happens if someone tests positive?
- 03How do you support residents to access the community, and how are the related risk assessments reviewed?
- 04What cleaning methods and specialist equipment are used to reduce the risk of infection?
- 05What support is available to staff when they feel anxious or need wellbeing help?
This was an announced, targeted inspection of infection prevention and control practices only; the service was inspected but not rated and the other care quality questions were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 30 December 2020 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, August 2018
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care with effective management systems.
This was an unannounced first ratings inspection on 27 June 2018. One inspector reviewed care records, staff files, medicines records, complaints, accident reports and quality checks. They spoke with two people, two relatives, a visiting health professional, the manager and three staff, and observed care.
The home supported seven people and could accommodate up to eight. Inspectors found people were protected from abuse, risks were assessed, medicines were managed safely and there were enough safely recruited staff. The home was clean and incidents were reviewed for learning.
People's needs were assessed and care plans gave staff clear guidance. Staff were trained, kind and respectful. People were supported to make choices, maintain independence, follow their interests, access the community and receive healthcare.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. This was the home's first ratings inspection, so the report does not describe a previous rating to compare with.
Safety planning
Staff understood how to recognise and report abuse. Individual risks were recorded clearly, and staff knew how to reduce harm.
“People were protected from abuse by staff that understood how to recognise the signs and report concerns.” from the report
Kind relationships
Inspectors saw staff build trusting relationships and communicate in ways people could understand. People were treated respectfully and supported to make their own choices.
“People were supported by staff that were caring.” from the report
Personalised support
Staff understood people's routines, preferences and communication needs. Care plans were reviewed and people were supported to pursue hobbies, employment and community activities.
“People's diverse needs and preferences were understood by staff and people were supported to follow their individual interests.” from the report
Quality checks
The home used regular audits and feedback to check care, medicines, staffing and the building. These checks were used to identify and act on improvements.
“The provider had systems in place to check on the quality of the service people received.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How will you keep my relative's care plan up to date if their needs, routines or behaviour change?
- 02How do you decide staffing levels when someone needs two staff to go out into the community?
- 03How will you support my relative to make choices if they find communication difficult?
- 04How are medicines, including any as-required or covert medicines, authorised, recorded and reviewed?
- 05What activities, employment or community opportunities could my relative take part in?
This was an unannounced first ratings inspection covering the care provided and the premises, with all five CQC questions rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 10 August 2018 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
Each visit the CQC has published, newest first, back to the day the home was registered.
- December 2020Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- August 2018GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2016
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 1 December 2016.
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 Stoke-on-Trent
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 £1,190 a week. 93 can care for a couple. 9 years' experience on average.
“She's shown compassion, patience and a level of understanding that no other carer has given.”
“She maintained a great environment for mum both with the tidiness and cleanliness of the house and Mum and with her caring and understanding attitude.”
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.