CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Oaklea
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found that people were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Staffing, medicines, infection control, risk management and learning from incidents were all found to be safe.
- Effective?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was used when calculating the overall rating.
- Caring?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this visit. The report's findings say people received kind and compassionate care, but no current rating was given for Caring.
- Responsive?
- Outstanding
- This key question was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was used when calculating the overall rating.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found experienced leadership, regular audits, open communication and a positive culture focused on people's needs and independence.
What inspectors found, August 2023
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and well-managed care, with some planned improvements to the home.
The inspection was unannounced and took place on 20 June 2023. One inspector and an assistant inspector visited, observed care, spoke with the manager and staff, and checked care, recruitment and other records.
The home was rated Good overall. Safe and Well-led were both rated Good. Inspectors found enough trained staff, safe medicines systems, suitable infection control, and effective checks on risks and equipment.
People were supported with kindness, dignity and choice. Staff knew people's needs well, helped them develop independence, and used people's preferred communication methods. The home also learned from incidents and worked with health and social care professionals.
This was not a full inspection of all five key questions. Caring, Effective and Responsive were not inspected during this visit, so earlier ratings were carried forward. The previous overall rating was Good, published on 2 October 2018.
Safe staffing
There were enough staff with the right skills to support people safely and according to their preferences. Recruitment checks and induction training supported safe care.
“The numbers and skills of staff matched the needs of people using the service.” from the report
Learning from incidents
The home reviewed incidents and changed routines when activities were contributing to people becoming overtired. This reduced the number of incidents.
“Staff learned from incidents to improve the service people received.” from the report
Respect and independence
Staff supported people to make choices, live with as few restrictions as possible and build their life skills. Some people had moved on to more independent settings.
“The provider worked hard to instil a culture of care in which staff teams truly valued and promoted people's individuality, protected their rights and enabled them to develop and improve their life skills.” from the report
Communication
People used Makaton to communicate, and staff were encouraged to learn it. Signs were displayed around the home to help people and visitors communicate.
“The provider had worked to develop an environment where people could engage using their preferred means of communication.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What progress has been made with moving to the online care planning and recording system?
- 02Have the planned improvements to older furniture, garden fencing and decoration been completed?
- 03How will staff support my relative to use their preferred communication method, including Makaton if needed?
- 04How are outside activities planned so that people do not become overtired and incidents are reduced?
- 05What actions from the recent fire risk assessment are still outstanding?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led, including infection prevention and control; Effective, Caring and Responsive were not inspected and their earlier ratings were carried forward. This explanation was written from the published report of 3 August 2023 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, October 2018
Rated Good overall, with Outstanding responsive care and inspectors finding kind, safe and highly personalised support.
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection on 1 August 2018. Inspectors spoke with people, relatives, staff and health and social care professionals. They observed care and reviewed care plans, medicines records, staff files and management records.
The home supported five people with autism or mental health needs. It also provided personal care to one person living in their own home. Inspectors found people were safe, treated with kindness, supported to stay healthy and helped to make choices and build independence.
Responsive care was rated Outstanding. Inspectors found care was exceptionally flexible and tailored to people's communication needs, relationships, beliefs, ambitions and long-term goals. The other four areas were rated Good.
The overall Good rating continued from the previous inspection in September 2015. The report says there was no evidence of serious risks or concerns, although some elements of the service had improved to Outstanding.
Highly personalised care
Inspectors found that care was flexible and closely matched people's needs, preferences and goals. Staff supported people to make choices and pursue ambitions.
“People experienced outstanding care that was extremely flexible and responsive to their individual needs and preferences.” from the report
Communication support
The home adapted communication tools for each person. Staff used recognised communication methods and created picture-based resources to help people understand events and express concerns.
“Staff had taken innovative steps to meet people's information and communication needs, which ensured they complied with the Accessible Information Standard.” from the report
Independence and community life
People were supported to develop life skills, access the community and take part in work, college, holidays and activities they enjoyed.
“Arrangements for social activities, and where appropriate, education and work, were innovative, met people's individual needs, and followed best practice guidance, so people could live as full a life as possible.” from the report
Kind and consistent staff
A stable staff team knew people well and provided continuity. Staff treated people with dignity and stayed with them when they were distressed.
“The staff team were well established at the home, which meant people experienced good continuity and consistency of care.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you adapt communication and information for my relative's specific needs?
- 02How do you make sure my relative's risks are managed without unnecessarily limiting their independence?
- 03How stable is the staff team, and how will you maintain continuity of care?
- 04How do you involve families and professionals when a person's health or behaviour needs change?
- 05How would you support my relative's personal relationships, beliefs, community activities and future goals?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection of the care home and the personal care provided to one person in their own home; CQC did not regulate the premises of that person's home. This explanation was written from the published report of 2 October 2018 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 Oaklea
3 rated inspections over 8 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- August 2023Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Good
- October 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 16 December 2010.
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 Southampton
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 £980 to £1,350 a week. 39 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“I cannot recommend Prisca highly enough, she is one in a million.”
“He stayed with her throughout the pandemic, refusing to visit his own family, who lived nearby, to reduce the risk of infection.”
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.