CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Oakdene Rest Home
Rated Requires improvement: inspectors found the home was not performing as well as it should and told it what to change.
What inspectors found, December 2021
Oakdene Rest Home was rated Good; inspectors found safe care and effective management, with a minor recruitment-record issue to follow up.
This was an unannounced, focused inspection on 4 November 2021. One inspector reviewed care records, medicine records, audits, staff training, rotas and infection-control procedures. They spoke with six staff members and sought feedback from relatives.
The home was rated Good for Safe and Well-led. Inspectors found that risks were assessed, medicines were managed safely, staffing levels met people's needs and safeguarding procedures were understood. Infection-control measures, including those relating to COVID-19, were also followed.
Management had regular checks and audits. Staff said they were supported and could approach managers. The overall Good rating remained unchanged from the previous inspection in 2017, but the other three areas were not inspected during this visit.
Risk management
People's risks were recorded and reviewed. Staff had clear guidance about how to reduce those risks.
“Risks to people were assessed and managed.” from the report
Medicines
Medicines were stored, administered and checked safely. The home had introduced a new medicines room and additional auditing since the previous inspection.
“Medicines were managed safely.” from the report
Staffing and training
Inspectors found enough staff to meet people's needs. Staff received induction, training, supervision and competency checks.
“There was enough staff to meet people's needs.” from the report
Management oversight
Managers understood their responsibilities and used weekly and monthly checks to monitor quality and safety.
“There were systems of weekly and monthly quality assurance checks and audits.” from the report
Infection control
Inspectors were assured that the home had measures to prevent and manage infection, including COVID-19 risks.
“We were assured that the provider's infection prevention and control policy was up to date.” from the report
Recruitment records
minorThe provider was asked to record specific months of employment or unemployment when checking gaps in applicants' work histories. Inspectors said they would check this at the next inspection.
“We requested that the provider fully comply with Schedule 3 and record specific months of past employment or unemployment when exploring gaps in employment.” from the report
- 01Have you fully updated recruitment records to show the specific months of past employment or unemployment for any gaps?
- 02How are medicine audits carried out, and what happens if a medicine shortfall is found?
- 03How do you check that staffing levels remain suitable for the current needs of residents?
- 04How will you keep families informed about accidents, incidents or changes in a resident's needs?
- 05What evidence can you provide about care quality in Effective, Caring and Responsive, which were not inspected during this visit?
This was an unannounced focused inspection of Safe and Well-led; the ratings for Effective, Caring and Responsive were not inspected and the previous comprehensive ratings were carried over. This explanation was written from the published report of 3 December 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.
What inspectors found, November 2020
Oakdene Rest Home was inspected but not rated; inspectors found kind, safe care, but mask use by the manager and cleaners needed correcting.
This was an unannounced targeted inspection on 14 October 2020. Inspectors looked at infection control, risk management and quality checks. They spoke with two people, four staff members and five relatives, and reviewed care plans, risk assessments, incidents and audits.
People and relatives said the home was safe and that staff were kind, caring and attentive. Staff understood people's risks, relatives were kept informed, and the home had systems for checking quality and improving care.
Inspectors found that the registered manager and cleaning staff were not wearing the required single-use face masks. This was corrected during the visit. One care plan did not reflect a person's recent change in needs, but it was updated immediately after the inspection.
The home was inspected but not rated at this visit. The previous overall rating was Good, published on 14 December 2019. This targeted inspection did not change that rating.
Kind and attentive staff
People and relatives described staff as kind, caring and attentive. People said they felt safe and well looked after.
“Staff were described as 'kind', 'caring' and 'attentive'.” from the report
Good understanding of risks
Staff understood individual risks and how to keep people safe. The home had equipment and care practices to help protect people's skin.
“Staff continued to have a good understanding of potential risks to each person and how to keep people safe.” from the report
Quality checks
The home regularly carried out audits and reviewed them. Additional cleaning hours had also been arranged during the pandemic.
“Systems to monitor and improve the quality of the service continued to be effective.” from the report
Open communication
Relatives said they were kept informed about changes and significant events. Staff said they could raise concerns with managers.
“The management team knew people well and there continued to be an open and positive culture which benefitted people's well-being.” from the report
Incorrect mask use
needs fixingThe registered manager and cleaning staff were not wearing single-use face masks that met the required specifications. This was addressed during the inspection and guidance was given.
“However, the registered manager and cleaning staff were not wearing single use face masks which met the required specifications.” from the report
Care plan was out of date
needs fixingOne person's needs had changed significantly, but the care plan did not yet show this. Staff knew how to provide the care, and the plan was updated immediately after the inspection.
“The exception to this, was one person's care which had changed significantly in the last few weeks.” from the report
- 01How do you now check that the registered manager and cleaning staff are using the correct single-use masks?
- 02How quickly are care plans updated when a person's needs change?
- 03What audits are carried out, and how are actions from those audits followed up?
- 04How will relatives be told about changes or increased risks affecting their family member?
- 05When was the last comprehensive CQC inspection, and what were the ratings for Caring, Effective and Responsive?
This was a targeted inspection of specific concerns about infection control, risk management and quality checks; it did not assess the whole service or change the previous ratings. This explanation was written from the published report of 10 November 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.
Every inspection of Oakdene Rest Home
4 rated inspections over 6 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- December 2021Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2020Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not ratedWell-led: Inspected but not rated
- December 2017Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2016Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- February 2016Requires improvementSafe: InadequateEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- March 2015
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 10 March 2015.
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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39 live-in carers within about an hour of Kent
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Most charge £980 to £1,260 a week. 33 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
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