CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Oak Lodge Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured about infection prevention, PPE, testing, hygiene, social distancing and safe admissions. They were also told that measures were in place to manage COVID-19-related staffing pressures.
- Effective?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in this targeted inspection, although inspectors reviewed visiting arrangements during the pandemic.
- Well-led?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
What inspectors found, February 2022
Oak Lodge Care Home was inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured about infection control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19 safety.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 31 January 2022. Inspectors looked mainly at infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and staffing pressures linked to COVID-19.
The home had 37 people living there and could care for up to 41 people. Inspectors were assured that the home was using PPE safely, managing testing, maintaining hygiene and social distancing, and had an up-to-date infection control policy.
At the time, some residents had tested positive for COVID-19. Face-to-face visits were paused for those residents, except for people receiving end-of-life care. When the home was free of COVID-19, a ventilated visiting room was available and cleaned between visits.
The overall service and Safe rating were recorded as inspected but not rated. This was not a full inspection, so it does not provide new ratings for all five areas of care.
Infection control
Inspectors were assured that the home had arrangements to prevent and manage infections, including safe PPE use, testing, hygiene and social distancing.
“We were assured that the provider was using PPE effectively and safely.” from the report
Visiting arrangements
The home had a dedicated visiting area for use when face-to-face visits were allowed. It was ventilated and cleaned between visitors.
“The room was well-ventilated and cleaned between visitors.” from the report
Support during isolation
Plans were in place for people who had to self-isolate, including ways to keep in touch with relatives and extra support for people who found isolation difficult.
“For those people who struggled with isolation additional support was provided.” from the report
Healthcare access
Staff continued to support people to access healthcare, including arrangements for attending hospital safely.
“Staff continued to support people to access healthcare, and arrangements were in place should people need to attend hospital safely.” from the report
Vaccination checks
The home was meeting the requirement for non-exempt staff and visiting professionals to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
“The service was meeting the requirement to ensure non-exempt staff and visiting professionals were vaccinated against COVID-19.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you manage staffing levels if COVID-19 caused staff shortages?
- 02What visiting arrangements would apply if there was another COVID-19 outbreak?
- 03How quickly could face-to-face visits restart after an outbreak ended?
- 04How would someone who struggled with isolation be supported during visiting restrictions?
- 05How do you check that staff and visiting professionals meet the COVID-19 vaccination requirements or have an exemption?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; it did not give new ratings for the other areas of care. This explanation was written from the published report of 8 February 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, September 2021
Oak Lodge Care Home is rated Good; inspectors found safer medicines management and stronger leadership, but staffing consistency remains worth checking.
Inspectors made two unannounced visits in August 2021. They spoke with people living at the home, relatives and staff, observed care, and reviewed care, medicines, recruitment, safety and management records.
The home was rated Good for Safe and Well-led. Medicines were managed through a new electronic system, staff had relevant training and checks, and systems were in place to monitor risks, safety and quality.
Relatives and staff generally spoke positively about the home. However, views about staffing levels and the use of agency staff were mixed. The manager said staffing levels were being kept under review and further recruitment was taking place.
The previous rating was Requires Improvement, with two breaches in 2019. Inspectors found enough improvement for the home to meet those legal requirements. This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led, so the other areas were not reassessed.
Safer medicines management
The home had introduced an electronic medicines system. Staff had training, regular audits and competency checks to support safe practice.
“Clear policies and procedures were in place. Regular audits and training were completed as well as annual assessments of competency to check practice was safe.” from the report
Positive relationships
People, relatives and staff described respectful care and said they could raise concerns with the management team.
“People we spoke with, their relatives and staff said they could raise issues with the management team and were confident action would be taken.” from the report
Clean and infection-aware
Inspectors were assured that the home had suitable infection prevention arrangements, including cleaning, PPE, testing and visiting procedures.
“All those we spoke with said the home was 'spotlessly clean'.” from the report
Improved leadership
The management team used audits and checks to identify actions, supported staff and worked with outside professionals when people's needs changed.
“A range of audits and checks were completed to help identify areas of continuous improvement and actions required.” from the report
Staffing consistency
minorRelatives gave mixed views about staffing. One concern was that agency staff meant faces changed, although inspectors found enough staff during the inspection and further recruitment was under way.
“I feel they use a lot of agency staff, faces change a lot, needs to be more familiarity for the residents.” from the report
Passenger lift follow-up
minorRecommendations from a recent passenger lift check were still being addressed at the time of inspection.
“Recommendations identified following a recent check of the passenger lift were being addressed.” from the report
- 01How many permanent and agency staff are usually on duty for each shift?
- 02How often are agency staff used, and how do you maintain familiarity for residents?
- 03How does the electronic medicines system identify and prevent errors?
- 04What progress has been made in addressing the passenger lift recommendations?
- 05How are relatives' concerns and feedback recorded, reviewed and acted on?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only; the other ratings from the previous comprehensive inspection were used in calculating the overall rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 8 September 2021 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 Lodge Care Home
5 rated inspections over 6 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- February 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- September 2021Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2019Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- July 2016Goodstayed GoodEffective: Good
- February 2016Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2015Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- July 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 25 November 2010.
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 Bury
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. 94 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“Primrose is a very kind and compassionate healthcare professional”
“She understands the needs of an elderly person in the early stages of dementia and has treated my mother with great kindness and skill.”
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.