CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Oak Lodge Residential Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Risks, medicines, staffing, recruitment and infection control were managed safely, although some records needed more personal detail.
- Effective?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this visit, so no current rating was given in this report.
- Caring?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this visit, so no current rating was given in this report. Inspectors did report that people and relatives described staff as warm and caring.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this visit, so no current rating was given in this report.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home had positive leadership, good communication and regular audits. People, relatives and staff said they were listened to, and managers acted on feedback and issues raised.
What inspectors found, November 2023
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, caring support and strong management, with some care records needing more detail.
Inspectors visited on 17 and 24 October 2023. The first visit was unannounced and the second was announced. They spoke with people, relatives, staff and health professionals, observed care, and checked care, medicines, staffing and management records.
The home was rated Good overall. Safe and well-led were both rated Good. Inspectors found people were safe, medicines were managed safely, staffing was suitable, and the home was clean and well maintained.
People and relatives described staff as warm and caring. Inspectors found an experienced staff team who knew people well. Managers used audits, feedback and regular communication to monitor quality and make improvements.
There were some minor gaps in records. Some risk information and medicines protocols needed more personal detail, and some best-interest records did not fully show how people and their representatives had been involved. The provider acted on issues raised during the inspection.
Safe care
Inspectors found that risks, medicines, safeguarding and staffing were managed safely. The home was clean and well maintained.
“People were safe and received high quality person-centred care and support.” from the report
Consistent staff
The staff team was experienced and knew people well. Inspectors observed timely, relaxed and kind support.
“There was an experienced and consistent staff team who knew people well and had developed trusting relationships.” from the report
People's voices
People and staff were involved in meetings, surveys and care planning. The home made changes after listening to feedback.
“The findings had been analysed and collated to produce an action plan and we saw changes had been made as result of people expressing their views.” from the report
Strong oversight
Managers had clear responsibilities and used audits and quality checks to identify and act on problems.
“The provider had a clear management structure to monitor the quality of care to drive improvements.” from the report
Risk records needed more detail
needs fixingWhen the home moved to a new electronic care planning system, some important risk information had not transferred. Some risk assessments also needed more personal information so staff could support people consistently. The provider updated essential records during the inspection.
“some would benefit from more person centred information to ensure people were supported consistently by staff.” from the report
Some best-interest records were incomplete
needs fixingIn some cases, records did not fully show how people and their representatives had been involved in decisions made in their best interests.
“In some cases, records needed improvement to reflect how people and their representatives had been fully involved in the discussions.” from the report
As-needed medicines protocols
needs fixingProtocols for medicines given when needed did not initially contain enough personal detail. The provider added more detail before inspectors returned for the second day.
“However, they would benefit from more person centred details.” from the report
- 01How will you make sure all important risk information is transferred and kept up to date in the electronic care planning system?
- 02How do you record the personal information staff need to support someone consistently when they become distressed?
- 03How do you make sure as-needed medicines have clear, person-centred instructions?
- 04How do you record the involvement of people and their representatives in best-interest decisions?
- 05What ratings currently apply to Effective, Caring and Responsive, as these areas were not inspected in this visit?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led; the other key-question ratings were not inspected during this visit and the overall rating used ratings from the previous inspection where needed. This explanation was written from the published report of 8 November 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, September 2017
Oak Lodge Residential Home was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and person-centred care, with a few records needing improvement.
Inspectors visited without notice on 16 August 2017. They spoke with 16 people, staff, a visitor and health professionals. They looked at care records, staff recruitment records, medicines and how the home was managed.
People said they felt safe and were treated with kindness and respect. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines systems, suitable food, good healthcare support and a wide range of activities. Care plans were clear and staff knew people's needs and preferences.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. This means the inspectors found the service met the expected standards at the time of this inspection.
Kind and personal care
Staff knew people well and supported their preferences, dignity and independence. Inspectors saw warm, friendly interactions and emotional support when people were anxious.
“Staff had developed good positive relationships with people and knew them well.” from the report
Reliable medicines support
Inspectors found medicines were stored, given and recorded safely. People received them consistently as prescribed.
“During our checks we found all medicines could be accounted for and people had received them consistently as prescribed.” from the report
Activities and community links
People had a broad choice of activities inside and outside the home. The minibus and community links increased the available opportunities.
“People had access to a very good range of activities and opportunities.” from the report
DoLS records
needs fixingThere was documentation showing a person's Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards conditions were being followed, but the evidence was not detailed enough. The manager agreed to improve this.
“documentation evidencing this could have been more robust.” from the report
Some care plan detail
minorStaff could explain how they supported healthy lifestyles, but some of this information was not recorded in enough detail in nutritional care plans.
“some of this information could have been better detailed within nutritional care plans.” from the report
Advocacy support
needs fixingInspectors found one person without family did not have an advocate for a care plan review. The deputy manager said an advocate would be arranged.
“We did identify one person who did not have family had no advocate for care plan review.” from the report
Audits needing updates
minorThe home's checks and audits helped identify improvements, but some were not up to date at the time of the inspection.
“although some audits and checks needed bringing up-to-date.” from the report
- 01How do you now record that all conditions attached to a person's Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards authorisation have been met?
- 02How do you make sure people without family support have an advocate for care plan reviews?
- 03How detailed are current nutritional care plans, including support for healthy lifestyle choices?
- 04How do you make sure medicines records and checks remain complete and up to date?
- 05What improvements have been made to the building and garden since the inspection?
This was an unannounced inspection of all five quality areas and was the first inspection since the service registered in December 2016. This explanation was written from the published report of 19 September 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 Lodge Residential Home
2 rated inspections over 6 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- November 2023Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2017GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2016
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 6 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
99 live-in carers within about an hour of Bradford
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 £1,250 a week. 87 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“Carla has been a god send with the implementation of bringing mum back home from respite care.”
“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.