CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Oak Trees Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured about infection prevention and control, including testing, protective equipment, cleaning, visiting arrangements and managing outbreaks.
- Effective?
- Good
- This area was not assessed or rated in this targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This area was not assessed or rated in this targeted inspection.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This area was not assessed or rated in this targeted inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- This area was not assessed or rated in this targeted inspection.
What inspectors found, February 2022
Oak Trees Care Home was inspected but not rated; inspectors found good COVID-19 infection control arrangements.
Inspectors visited on 14 January 2022. This was an announced, targeted inspection focused on infection prevention and control during the COVID-19 pandemic. They also asked about staffing pressures.
Inspectors found regular COVID-19 testing for staff and residents. They found effective use of protective equipment, suitable visitor checks, risk assessments for people at higher risk, and regular cleaning of frequently touched surfaces.
The home was keeping families informed about changing government guidance and was supporting visits in line with guidance. Its infection control policy was up to date, and staff were meeting the COVID-19 vaccination requirement for non-exempt staff and visiting professionals.
The service was inspected but not rated. This means the report does not give a Good, Requires improvement or Inadequate rating from this visit.
COVID-19 testing
Staff and residents received regular COVID-19 testing, with processes in place for anyone showing symptoms.
“All staff and people living at the service received regular COVID-19 testing.” from the report
Protective equipment
Staff used protective equipment effectively and had received infection prevention and control training.
“Staff were seen to use PPE effectively and had undertaken the appropriate training in infection prevention and control” from the report
Clean environment
The home was clean, and frequent touch surfaces were cleaned and recorded regularly.
“The service was clean, and cleaning of frequent touch surfaces was in place and recorded regularly by housekeeping staff.” from the report
Family communication and visits
The home kept residents and families updated about changing guidance and supported visits with screening, testing and protective equipment.
“The service was transparent in sharing information with people and their families keeping them updated with any changes and expectations regarding government guidance and the COVID-19 pandemic.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are you currently testing residents and staff for COVID-19, and what happens if someone has symptoms?
- 02How do you make sure staff use protective equipment correctly, and when was their infection control training last updated?
- 03What measures are currently in place if there are staffing pressures linked to COVID-19?
- 04How are visits managed now, including screening, testing and protective equipment for visitors?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, with questions about COVID-19-related staffing pressures; it did not rate the other four key areas or the service overall. This explanation was written from the published report of 1 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, November 2019
Oak Trees Care Home was rated Good overall, with kind and safe care but records for care plans and medicines needing improvement.
Inspectors visited on 17 and 30 September 2019 without giving notice. They spoke with 13 people, five relatives or visitors and 10 staff. They observed the home and dining experience, and checked care, medicine, recruitment and management records.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. People said they felt safe, received timely support and were treated with kindness and respect. Staff supported people's choices, meals and healthcare needs, and offered activities and links with the community.
Inspectors found that care plans were sometimes incomplete, contradictory or out of date. Medicine records did not always show when creams had been applied. These issues led to recommendations for improvement, but the report did not identify any breaches of regulations.
Kind and respectful staff
People described staff as gentle, attentive and caring. Inspectors saw staff supporting people calmly and respectfully.
“Staff were attentive and professional. Staff supported people in a calm and respectful manner, including during difficult situations.” from the report
Safe staffing
The home carried out appropriate recruitment checks and had enough staff to meet people's needs, support activities and attend appointments.
“There were sufficient staff on duty to meet people's needs, to enable people to take part in social activities and to attend medical appointments.” from the report
Choice and involvement
People were involved in decisions about their care and were supported to make choices about their routines and daily lives.
“People were routinely involved in decisions about their care; staff sought people's consent and supported them to have choice and control over all aspects of their support.” from the report
Activities and relationships
People could join varied activities, spend time outdoors and maintain contact with family. Visitors were not restricted to particular times.
“People participated in a wide range of activities within the service and in the community, they also enjoyed the company of others in the service.” from the report
Good communication
Relatives said they were kept informed about people's health and could contact someone when needed. Complaints were investigated and addressed according to the home's procedure.
“Complaints were investigated and addressed in line with the provider's policy and procedure.” from the report
Care plans were not up to date
needs fixingSome care plans lacked important details, contained contradictions or had not been updated for several months. The manager said they would be checked and rewritten where needed.
“There was some contradiction in the care records that needed reviewing for accuracy and they had not been updated for some months.” from the report
Medicine recording was inconsistent
needs fixingMedicines were given safely, but records did not always show that creams had been applied. Inspectors recommended updating medicine management practice.
“However, the quality of recording on the medicine administration records and topical medicine records was inconsistent.” from the report
Management checks missed some problems
needs fixingThe home's monitoring systems had not identified the care planning and medicine recording issues. The manager took immediate action to strengthen audits.
“However, these had not identified the issues we found with medicine management or care planning.” from the report
Some equipment and layout limitations
needs fixingInspectors found a lack of adjustable-height beds for some people at risk of falls. They also noted narrow corridors that could make it difficult for wheelchair and walking-frame users to pass each other.
“However, there was a lack of adjustable height beds to help reduce the risk of falls.” from the report
- 01Have all care plans now been checked, corrected and updated, including mobility and catheter care details?
- 02How do you check that staff record every medicine and cream correctly?
- 03How often do staff now receive supervision, and how detailed are the records?
- 04What changes have been made to provide suitable beds for people at risk of falls?
- 05What improvements are planned for the narrow corridors and access for people using wheelchairs or walking frames?
This was an unannounced planned inspection covering all five CQC questions; Safe had improved from Requires Improvement to Good, while the other ratings remained Good. This explanation was written from the published report of 13 November 2019 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 Trees Care Home
3 rated inspections over 5 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- February 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- November 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2015GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 24 January 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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28 live-in carers within about an hour of North Yorkshire
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 £1,010 to £1,290 a week. 27 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 was always 'just present enough': attentive, available, kind and engaging, but without ever over-stepping any boundary”
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.