CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Oaklands
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, June 2019
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, but some medicine guidance and capacity records needed improvement.
The inspection took place without notice on 22 May 2019 and continued with notice on 23 May 2019. One inspector spoke with people, relatives and staff, and reviewed care files, medicines records, staff files, complaints, audits and the building.
The home was providing personal care and nursing to 20 people aged 65 and over. Inspectors rated the home Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led.
People and relatives described the care as safe and kind. Inspectors found that staff understood people's risks, care was personalised, people were involved in decisions, and the home worked with health professionals.
There were two areas being corrected during the inspection. Guidance for some medicines given when needed did not contain enough detail, and some best-interest decisions were recorded together rather than separately. The manager began reviewing both areas during the inspection.
Kind, respectful care
People and families spoke positively about the care. Inspectors saw staff respecting privacy, dignity, independence and personal choices.
“Interactions between people, their families and the staff team were relaxed and friendly.” from the report
Personalised care plans
Care plans reflected people's needs and preferences, including communication, cultural and spiritual choices. They were reviewed with people and families.
“People had care plans which reflected their personal care needs and choices, were understood by staff and reviewed regularly with people and their families.” from the report
Skilled and supported staff
Staff received induction, ongoing training, supervision and annual appraisals. Training included areas linked to the needs of people living in the home.
“Staff had completed an induction and had on-going training and support that enabled them to carry out their roles effectively.” from the report
Open management
Inspectors found that management was visible and that people, families and staff could share feedback. Audits were used to identify improvements.
“The culture of the home was open and transparent.” from the report
Medicine guidance
seriousSome instructions for medicines given when needed did not say enough about maximum daily doses or what staff should consider before giving calming medicine. The manager began reviewing these instructions during the inspection.
“This meant that people were at risk of not receiving these medicines appropriately.” from the report
Best-interest records
needs fixingSome records combined several best-interest decisions instead of recording each decision separately. The manager began correcting these records during the inspection.
“Best interest decisions need to be decision specific and we found in some instances several decisions had been recorded together.” from the report
- 01Have all instructions for medicines given when needed been reviewed, including maximum doses and guidance about calming medicines?
- 02How are best-interest decisions now recorded so that each decision is considered separately?
- 03How will you involve me and my relative when reviewing risks and care plans?
- 04What training do staff receive for the specific health needs of people living in the home?
- 05How can residents and relatives raise concerns, and how will the home respond?
This was a planned inspection of the home, including its premises and care, and it assessed all five CQC questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 11 June 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.
What inspectors found, December 2016
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with some people saying staff did not always have enough time to talk.
This was an unannounced inspection on 25 October 2016. Inspectors spoke with people living in the home, visitors, staff and health professionals. They observed care, medicines, activities and lunch, and checked care plans, medicines records, accident records, staff files and quality checks.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. People generally said they felt safe and well cared for. Inspectors found suitable staffing levels on the day, safe recruitment, safe medicines systems, detailed care plans, kind staff and activities based on people's interests.
The home had improved since the previous inspection, which was rated Requires Improvement. Its audits and records were more established, and earlier concerns about care records, legal safeguards, wound care and emergency planning had been addressed. Some decoration and furnishings still needed updating, and some people said staff could be too busy to talk and listen fully.
Kind and respectful care
People were treated with dignity and spoken to in a sensitive and professional way. Inspectors saw friendly and supportive relationships between staff and people.
“People were treated with respect and dignity by the staff. They were spoken with and supported in a sensitive, respectful and professional manner.” from the report
Detailed care planning
Care plans and risk assessments gave staff clear guidance about people's individual needs. They were reviewed regularly and included information about communication, nutrition and mobility.
“People's care and support plans and risk assessments were detailed and reviewed regularly giving clear guidance for care staff to follow.” from the report
Safe medicines systems
Medicines were stored securely and checked. Records showed that medicines had been administered and topical creams recorded appropriately.
“Medicines were stored correctly and there were systems to manage medicine safely, audits and stock checks were completed to ensure people received their medicines as prescribed.” from the report
Activities and choice
People could choose from regular activities, outings and entertainment. Activities were arranged around people's preferences, and people could choose not to take part.
“People were supported to take part in a range of recreational activities. These were organised in line with peoples' preferences.” from the report
Improvements in management
The provider had acted on the previous inspection findings. Quality checks, action plans and management oversight were more established.
“At this inspection we found the provider had followed their action plan, and improvements had been made.” from the report
Time to talk
needs fixingSome people said staff were sometimes too busy to talk or listen fully. Inspectors noted that staffing met care needs on the day, but this feedback had also appeared in the home's own questionnaire.
“However, we did receive some feedback that at times people felt they had to wait for their care and staff did not always have the time to talk with people and fully listen to their needs.” from the report
Environment still being updated
minorSome decoration, equipment and furnishings needed improvement. A refurbishment plan was in place, with several improvements completed or planned.
“There were areas where the décor and furnishings was in need of updating to improve the environment people lived in.” from the report
- 01How many care staff are normally on duty on each shift, and how do you use the dependency tool when people's needs change?
- 02What action was taken after people said staff did not always have enough time to talk and listen?
- 03Has all the planned redecoration, replacement furniture, carpeting and ensuite work now been completed?
- 04How are care plan, medicines and safety audits checked to make sure actions are completed and kept up to date?
- 05How will my relative be involved in choosing activities, meals and reviewing their care plan?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five quality areas and included observations, discussions with people and staff, and checks of care, medicines, staffing and management records. This explanation was written from the published report of 7 December 2016 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
3 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- June 2019Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2016Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2016Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- March 2015
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 3 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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46 live-in carers within about an hour of Brighton and Hove
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 £1,280 a week. 37 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Lottie showed incredible patience and empathy, adapting her routine to fit in with Mum's moods. Most importantly, Lottie's cheerful manner helped Mum to get some enjoyment out of life.”
“He was infinitely patient with them and got on very well with us to the extent that we now regard him as a personal friend.”
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