CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Oakwood Care Centre
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found that risks, staffing, recruitment, medicines and infection control were managed safely. Some records for topical creams had not been fully completed, but managers addressed this during the inspection.
- 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
- The provider had regular quality checks and acted promptly when issues were found. There was no registered manager at the time, although a new manager had started the registration process.
What inspectors found, May 2021
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, respectful care and strong management, with some records and building updates still needing attention.
Inspectors made an unannounced, focused inspection on 15 and 16 April 2021. They looked only at Safe and Well-led, including infection control, medicines, staffing, safeguarding, maintenance and management checks. They also spoke with people, relatives and staff and reviewed care and service records.
The home was rated Good for Safe and Good for Well-led. Inspectors found that risks, medicines, recruitment, staffing and infection control were managed safely. People said they felt safe, were happy and were treated with respect.
The provider had taken over since the last full inspection and had introduced regular checks and audits. There was no registered manager at the time, but a new manager had started the registration process. Some topical cream records were incomplete, and parts of the building were waiting to be updated.
People felt safe
People told inspectors they felt safe and staff treated them with respect and dignity.
“People told us they felt safe with the staff.” from the report
Safe staffing
Inspectors found staffing levels were suitable and recruitment checks were in place. People said staff responded when they needed help.
“Staffing levels were appropriate to meet people's needs.” from the report
Infection control
The home had taken appropriate action around Covid-19, including training, hygiene, protective equipment and testing.
“We were assured that the provider was using PPE effectively and safely.” from the report
Good oversight
The provider used daily, weekly and monthly checks and audits. Inspectors found that issues were dealt with promptly.
“The provider had good oversight of the service.” from the report
Kind and person-centred care
Staff knew people well, respected their wishes and involved relatives. People and relatives spoke positively about the care.
“They knew people well and took a pride in providing person centred care.” from the report
Incomplete cream records
needs fixingSome records showing when topical creams had been given were incomplete. Managers dealt with this during the inspection, but families should ask how this is now monitored.
“We found that some records relating to administration of topical creams had not been fully completed.” from the report
Building work delayed
minorSome parts of the home needed updating. Bathroom improvements and updates to the electrical and heating systems were planned, with work delayed by Covid-19 restrictions.
“Some areas of the home needed updating.” from the report
No registered manager at inspection
minorThe home did not have a registered manager when inspectors visited. A new manager had started the application process, and the provider had taken timely steps to address this.
“The location did not have a registered manager.” from the report
- 01Has the new manager now completed the application to register with CQC, and who is responsible for the home while this is being processed?
- 02How are records for topical creams checked to make sure every application is recorded?
- 03Have the planned bathroom, electrical and heating updates been completed? If not, what is the current timetable?
- 04What are the home's current infection control arrangements for visitors, testing and protective equipment?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only; the other three key question ratings were carried over from the previous comprehensive inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 8 May 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, December 2019
Oakwood Care Centre is rated Good; inspectors found kind, well-managed care, with recommendations about a staircase and medicine records.
This was an unannounced, planned inspection on 21 and 22 November 2019. One inspector spoke with four people, four relatives, nine staff members and a health and social care professional. They also reviewed care plans, staff files, audits, incidents and policies.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough trained staff, safe medicines systems, good healthcare support, kind staff and personalised care.
Inspectors identified two areas for improvement. They recommended a risk assessment for the main staircase and better recording when topical medicines and thickeners were given. These recommendations did not change the Good ratings.
The previous inspection, published in November 2018, rated the home Requires Improvement and found a breach of Regulation 17. At this inspection, inspectors found enough improvement and said the home was no longer in breach.
Enough trained staff
Inspectors found sufficient staff with the skills and knowledge needed to support people. Recruitment checks were also in place.
“People were supported by a sufficient number of staff with the right skills and knowledge to meet their needs.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People and relatives spoke positively about staff. Inspectors saw staff listen to people, offer choices and protect their privacy and dignity.
“People were cared for by compassionate staff and who responded to them as unique individuals.” from the report
Personalised care plans
Care plans reflected people's needs and preferences and were reviewed as those needs changed. Staff knew people's histories and used this information to support them.
“Care plans were kept up to date and reflected people's needs accurately.” from the report
Improved management systems
The home had introduced stronger audits and clearer systems for checking care and records. This addressed the previous breach of Regulation 17.
“There were updated and robust auditing systems in place to ensure care and support were provided as intended.” from the report
Staircase safety
needs fixingInspectors said the main staircase could pose a falls risk to people who moved freely around the building. They recommended a risk assessment and steps to support safe movement without unnecessary restriction.
“The main staircase leading to the first floor could pose a risk of falls to people who mobilised freely around the building.” from the report
Medicine recording
needs fixingRecords did not always show when topical medicines and thickeners had been given. Inspectors recommended reviewing current guidance and updating practice.
“Topical medicines and those used to thicken foods and fluids were not always recorded at each administration.” from the report
- 01What risk assessment has been completed for the main staircase, and what changes have been made?
- 02How do you now record every administration of topical medicines and thickeners?
- 03How are medicine records checked, and what happens if a dose is not recorded?
- 04How do you make sure care plans continue to reflect changes in a person's needs and preferences?
- 05What activities and one-to-one support would be available for my relative?
This was an unannounced planned inspection covering all five CQC questions: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. This explanation was written from the published report of 10 December 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.
Every inspection of Oakwood Care Centre
5 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has improved, from Inadequate to Good.
- May 2021Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2019Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2018Requires improvementup from InadequateSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- June 2018Inadequatestayed InadequateSafe: InadequateEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Inadequate
- April 2017InadequateSafe: InadequateEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Inadequate
- September 2015
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 30 September 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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