CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Oak Lodge
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found that medicines, risk assessments, safeguarding, staffing, recruitment and infection control were managed safely. They also found that lessons were learned from accidents and incidents.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff had induction, training and supervision. People received personalised support with food, drink and healthcare, and the home followed the Mental Capacity Act principles.
- Caring?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this visit. Its rating was carried over from the previous inspection.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this visit. Its rating was carried over from the previous inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The manager and staff were approachable, and audits and performance checks were being used to identify improvements. Inspectors found an open and supportive culture.
What inspectors found, March 2023
Oak Lodge is rated Good; inspectors found safe, person-centred care and improvements since the previous inspection.
This was an unannounced, focused inspection on 7 March 2023. One inspector spoke with six people and eight staff, and reviewed care records, medicines records, food and fluid records, staff recruitment files and management records.
The home was rated Good for Safe, Effective and Well-led. Inspectors found that medicines, staffing, recruitment, safeguarding, care planning, staff training and quality checks had improved. People were supported to make choices and received care based on their individual needs.
The overall rating changed from Requires Improvement to Good. This inspection only checked Safe, Effective and Well-led. Ratings for Caring and Responsive were not inspected and were carried over from the previous inspection.
Safe medicines management
Medicines were stored and managed safely. Staff had training and competency checks, including guidance for medicines given when needed and topical medicines.
“Medicines were managed safely.” from the report
Enough suitable staff
Inspectors found enough staff to meet people's needs and safe recruitment checks were in place.
“Appropriate staffing levels were in place to meet the needs of people in the service.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans reflected people's current needs, choices and healthcare requirements. Food and activities were also adapted to individual preferences.
“Care plans and risk assessments were person centred and reflective of people's current needs.” from the report
Improving management
Quality audits and performance checks were now embedded and were used to identify areas for improvement and maintain standards.
“Audits and performance checks were now used to manage the service, maintain standards and identify areas for improvement.” from the report
Warm staff culture
Inspectors observed staff working well together. People and staff described the management team as approachable and supportive.
“The culture at the service was professional, warm and welcoming.” from the report
Environmental work was unfinished
minorThe environment had improved, but inspectors said that further work was still taking place. Families may want to ask what work remains and when it will be completed.
“The environment was much improved, and work was still ongoing to improve the home.” from the report
- 01What environmental improvement work was still outstanding after the inspection, and when was it expected to be completed?
- 02How will you make sure new staff become confident with each person's medicines before administering them?
- 03How do you check that care plans continue to reflect changes in people's needs?
- 04What activities and community links are available for someone with my relative's interests and abilities?
- 05What were the current ratings and findings for Caring and Responsive, which were not covered by this inspection?
This was an unannounced focused inspection of Safe, Effective and Well-led; Caring and Responsive were not inspected and their ratings were carried over from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 16 March 2023 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, February 2021
Rated Requires Improvement; the home had made significant progress since being Inadequate, but inspectors needed more evidence that improvements would last.
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection carried out over five days. Inspectors checked the home, records, medicines, staff training, infection control and quality checks. They spoke with people, relatives, staff and other professionals.
The home had improved from Inadequate and was no longer in breach of regulations or special measures. Infection control, the environment, staff training, safeguarding and communication had improved. However, some medicines records were incomplete, recruitment checks did not always follow the home's policy, and quality checks did not always produce one clear improvement plan.
The overall rating was Requires Improvement. Caring and Responsive were rated Good. Safe, Effective and Well-led were rated Requires Improvement because the new systems had not been in place long enough to show consistent and lasting good practice.
Kind and respectful care
People and relatives spoke positively about the staff. Inspectors saw staff protecting people's dignity and supporting their independence.
“People were supported by caring and respectful staff.” from the report
Better infection control
Inspectors found that staff used protective equipment correctly and had received infection control training. Supplies were available around the home.
“Systems were now in place to ensure there were effective and robust infection control processes at the service.” from the report
Personalised support
Care records described people's preferences and communication needs. Staff worked with relatives and other professionals to review care.
“People's care records were personalised and clear about how people wanted to be supported.” from the report
Improved environment
The laundry, bathrooms and other areas had been improved since the previous inspection. New furniture, beds and mattresses had also been bought.
“We saw significant improvements had been made to the environment to ensure it was safe and clean.” from the report
Medicine records
seriousRecords for creams and other topical medicines were not always completed, and guidance was sometimes missing. Inspectors could not be sure these medicines were always used as prescribed.
“However, the records for topical preparations such as creams were not always completed and guidance was not always in place therefore, we were not assured they were used as prescribed.” from the report
Recruitment paperwork
needs fixingThe provider had not always followed its own recruitment policy. Some employment history and interview records had gaps, although references and DBS checks had been completed before staff started.
“Since our last inspection the provider had not followed their own policy regarding the recruitment process.” from the report
Quality checks
needs fixingThere were several types of audit, but they did not always identify problems or produce one clear improvement plan. The systems needed to be streamlined and embedded.
“However, there were multiple types and methods of audits that did not always identify issues and put forward one clear improvement plan.” from the report
Improvements not yet established
needs fixingSome building work was still ongoing, and the provider needed to show that staff training and competency checks would be refreshed and maintained.
“The provider needs to demonstrate that staff training and competencies are refreshed and maintained.” from the report
- 01How are you now checking that records and guidance for creams and other topical medicines are complete?
- 02What has changed to make sure every new staff member's employment history and interview records are complete?
- 03What single improvement plan now brings together the findings from all your audits?
- 04Which environmental works are still unfinished, and when are they expected to be completed?
- 05How do you ensure staff training and competency checks are refreshed and kept up to date?
This was a comprehensive follow-up inspection covering all five key questions, with particular checks on concerns from the previous inspection and infection prevention and control. This explanation was written from the published report of 10 February 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
9 rated inspections over 7 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- March 2023Goodcurrent ratingup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2021Requires improvementup from InadequateSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- August 2020Inadequatedown from GoodSafe: InadequateWell-led: Inadequate
- October 2019Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Good
- January 2019Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- October 2018Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- February 2017Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Inspected but not rated
- January 2017Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- February 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2015
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 13 December 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.
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36 live-in carers within about an hour of Darlington
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Most charge £970 to £1,230 a week. 35 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
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