CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Oaklands
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Staff understood safeguarding and risk management. Inspectors found enough staff, safe recruitment and training, safe medicines systems, good infection control and appropriate learning from incidents.
- Effective?
- Good
- Care plans were personalised and staff had relevant training and supervision. People were supported with food, healthcare, communication, independence and decisions about their care.
- Caring?
- Good
- Inspectors observed kind, patient and respectful care. Staff understood people’s communication styles and involved people and families in care planning where appropriate.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Support was adapted as people’s needs changed. People were helped to pursue interests, attend college or work, maintain relationships and communicate in ways that suited them.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Managers were visible and approachable, and staff said they felt supported. Regular audits, meetings, surveys and reviews were used to monitor quality and make improvements.
What inspectors found, October 2022
Rated Good in all five areas; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with no breaches reported.
This was the home’s first inspection under a new registered provider. It was unannounced. One inspector visited on 5 October 2022, with inspection activity recorded as running from 5 to 15 October.
The inspector observed care, spoke with five staff members and reviewed records. These included one person’s care and medicines records, two staff files, training information and quality checks. Infection control arrangements were also checked.
The home supports up to five people with learning disabilities or autistic people. Five people were living there at the time, although only one was receiving personal care. Inspectors found that people were supported to make choices, build independence, take part in activities and stay connected with health, social and family support.
The home was rated Good for Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. This means inspectors found the service was meeting the standards they checked, but Good is not the same as perfect and the CQC will continue to monitor information before its next inspection.
Choice and independence
Staff helped people make choices, manage risks and develop everyday skills. Support was intended to increase independence where this was appropriate.
“People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors saw staff using calm, patient and respectful approaches. Staff understood people’s emotions, sensory needs and communication styles.
“People received kind and compassionate care from staff who used positive, respectful language which people understood and responded well to.” from the report
Personalised activities
People were supported to follow interests and take part in activities such as walks, picnics, college, work and therapy.
“People were supported to participate in their chosen social and leisure interests on a regular basis.” from the report
Good staffing and training
Inspectors found enough staff and said staffing levels changed when people’s needs changed. Staff had relevant training, supervision and support.
“The numbers and skills of staff matched the needs of people using the service.” from the report
Visible management
Managers worked alongside staff, listened to people and families, and used audits and meetings to check the quality of care.
“Governance processes were effective and helped to hold staff to account, keep people safe, protect people's rights and provide good quality care and support.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you adapt the staffing and support if my relative’s needs increased?
- 02How would you support my relative to build independence in personal care and everyday living?
- 03How would you communicate with my relative if they were distressed, in pain or unable to use speech?
- 04How are families involved in care planning, risk assessments and reviews?
- 05What activities, education, work or community opportunities would be available for my relative?
This was the first comprehensive inspection under a new registered provider, covering all five CQC questions and infection prevention and control, but the records reviewed included one person’s care and medicines records. This explanation was written from the published report of 29 October 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.
Every inspection of Oaklands
Each visit the CQC has published, newest first, back to the day the home was registered.
- October 2022Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2021
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 12 March 2021.
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
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35 live-in carers within about an hour of Essex
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 £1,020 to £1,260 a week. 25 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Not only was she professional, polite and efficient but she bought a lovely smile and laughter to my parents home.”
“She brought fun and stimulation into mums life.”
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.