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
- Inspectors were assured about infection prevention and control, including PPE, testing, visits, admissions, hygiene and outbreak management. The provider also described measures to manage COVID-19-related staffing pressures.
- Effective?
- Good
- Does the care work? Training, consent, food and drink, working with GPs and nurses.
- Caring?
- Good
- Are people treated with kindness and dignity?
- Responsive?
- Good
- Is care built around the person? Care plans, activities, complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Is the home run well? The manager, the culture, how problems get found and fixed.
What inspectors found, January 2022
Oaklands was inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control and thoughtful support during COVID-19 restrictions.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 14 January 2022. Inspectors gave one day's notice and looked at infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and staffing pressures linked to COVID-19.
The inspectors were assured that the home was using protective equipment safely, arranging testing, managing visits and admissions safely, and keeping its infection control policy up to date. They were also assured that the home was meeting COVID-19 vaccination requirements for staff and visiting professionals.
The report gives examples of staff supporting residents during restrictions. These included bringing music nights, themed parties and a fireworks display into the home. The home was inspected but not rated, so this report does not provide a new overall quality rating.
Creative activities during restrictions
Staff found ways for residents to enjoy events inside the home when outside activities were not possible.
“These included running music nights, a Mexican-themed party, a beach-themed party and hosting a fireworks display for residents.” from the report
Planning for outbreaks
Managers described plans to keep care going during unexpected lockdowns or outbreaks, including staff staying overnight or in temporary accommodation.
“Staff were passionate about caring for their residents, and had taken precautionary steps to ensure they could continue to deliver care in the event of unexpected lockdowns or outbreaks.” from the report
Infection control arrangements
Inspectors were assured that the home used PPE safely, arranged testing, managed visits and admissions, and kept its infection control policy up to date.
“We were assured that the provider was using PPE effectively and safely.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How have your infection prevention and control arrangements changed since the inspection in January 2022?
- 02How do you currently arrange visits when there is an infection outbreak or other restriction?
- 03How would you maintain staffing and residents' care if there was a sudden lockdown or COVID-19 outbreak?
- 04How do you currently check that staff and visiting professionals meet the relevant vaccination or exemption requirements?
- 05How do you make sure residents can continue to take part in activities when they cannot go out?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; the service was inspected but not rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 21 January 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, January 2020
Oaklands was rated Good overall; inspectors found safe, kind and person-centred care, with some worn paintwork noted.
This was an unannounced planned inspection on 27 November 2019. One inspector spoke with people, relatives and staff, observed care, and checked care, medicines, recruitment, training and quality records.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. People were described as happy and safe. Staff knew people well, respected their choices and supported their independence.
The home had a consistent staff team and worked with health professionals. Activities and outings were based on people's interests and helped them take part in the community. Some paintwork was worn, but plans were in place to address it.
The overall Good rating means inspectors found the service met the expected standards at this inspection. The previous overall rating was also Good, published on 3 June 2017.
People feel safe
People were happy and felt safe. Staff understood people's care needs and how they might communicate concerns without words.
“People were happy and felt safe. Staff had an excellent understanding of people's care and support needs.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
Staff built positive relationships, treated people with dignity and supported their independence and choices.
“People were treated with dignity and respect and their independence was promoted.” from the report
Personalised support
Care was shaped around people's interests, routines, communication methods and goals. People were supported to take part in activities and outings.
“People took control of their lives with support from staff. Staff treated people as individuals and staff respected decisions and choices they made.” from the report
Skilled and consistent team
The home had a consistent staff team with training, induction and management support. Staff worked with other professionals to support people's health.
“People were looked after by staff who had the skills and knowledge to carry out their roles.” from the report
Good management
The management team was experienced and used checks, feedback and action plans to monitor and improve the service.
“Systems were in place to ensure the quality of the service provided was monitored.” from the report
Worn paintwork
minorInspectors found some worn paintwork. The report says plans were already in place to address it.
“Some paintwork was worn; plans were in place for this to be addressed.” from the report
- 01What work has been completed, or is planned, to deal with the worn paintwork?
- 02How will you support my relative to communicate choices, preferences or concerns?
- 03How do you make sure activities and outings reflect each person's interests and goals?
- 04How will you support my relative's health needs and communicate with health professionals?
- 05How do you check that medicines are administered safely and that staff remain competent?
This was an unannounced planned inspection covering all five CQC questions; the previous overall rating was Good and was published on 3 June 2017. This explanation was written from the published report of 14 January 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 Oaklands
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- January 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- January 2020Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2017GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2016
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 2 February 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.
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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.