CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Oatleigh Care Ltd
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found that risks were assessed and reviewed, medicines were managed safely and there were enough staff. They also found suitable recruitment checks and good infection control.
- Effective?
- Good
- People's needs and choices were assessed before they moved in. Staff had relevant training and worked with health professionals, while people were supported with food, drink and healthcare.
- Caring?
- Good
- People and relatives said staff were kind, helpful and polite. Inspectors observed respectful care, privacy and support for people's independence and choices.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans included people's health needs, wishes and interests. People were supported with activities, relationships, communication needs and end of life choices, and complaints were handled through a clear process.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found active management, regular staff communication and systems to monitor quality and safety. The home worked with health and social care professionals and used feedback to support improvements.
What inspectors found, April 2023
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care across all five areas.
Inspectors visited without warning on 26 January and 2 February 2023. They spoke with people living in the home, a relative and staff. They observed care and checked care plans, medicines records, staff recruitment and training records, audits and other documents.
The home was rated Good overall. All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines arrangements, suitable training and good infection control.
People were treated with kindness and respect. Their care plans recorded their needs, choices and preferences. People had access to activities, healthcare and visitors, and the home had systems for handling complaints and checking the quality of care.
The previous inspection was also rated Good, published on 5 December 2017. This inspection included infection prevention and control as part of the Safe assessment.
Safe staffing and medicines
Inspectors saw enough staff available and found that medicines were administered, stored and checked safely.
“Throughout our inspection, we observed there were enough staff deployed appropriately within the service to meet people's needs in a timely manner.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People and relatives spoke positively about staff. Inspectors saw staff treat people with dignity, respect their privacy and encourage independence.
“Throughout our inspection we observed positive interactions between people and staff.” from the report
Personalised care
Care plans recorded people's health needs, choices, communication needs and interests. The electronic system helped staff respond when needs changed.
“Care plans documented people's physical, emotional and mental health needs as well as their lifestyle preferences and the things that were important to them” from the report
Good oversight
Managers used audits, meetings and feedback to monitor the service. Staff said management communication and support were good.
“There were systems in place to monitor the quality and safety of the service on a regular basis” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How will you assess and review my relative's risks, including mobility, falls, nutrition and medicines?
- 02How will you involve my relative and our family in developing and reviewing the care plan?
- 03Which activities and social opportunities would suit my relative's interests and communication needs?
- 04How will you support my relative's dietary, cultural and healthcare needs?
- 05How can we raise a complaint, and how will you tell us what action has been taken?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five key questions, including infection prevention and control under Safe; the previous overall rating was Good in 2017. This explanation was written from the published report of 4 April 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, December 2017
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and responsive care across all five areas.
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection on 24 October 2017. Inspectors spoke with people living in the home, relatives and staff. They observed care, checked eight care records and medicines records for all 38 people using the service.
The home was rated Good for safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led care. Inspectors found that medicines were managed safely, risks were assessed, staffing was sufficient and the building was clean and well maintained.
People received food and drinks suited to their needs. Staff had training and supervision, respected people's dignity, involved people and relatives in care planning, and supported activities, healthcare and end of life care.
The home was already rated Good at the previous inspection on 8 September 2015, and remained Good at this inspection. No breaches of regulations were reported.
Safe medicines
Medicines were stored securely, records were correctly signed, and staff were trained and assessed as competent.
“People's medicines remained managed and administered in a safe way.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
Staff communicated gently and adjusted their approach to people's needs, including when people were distressed or unable to communicate verbally.
“Staff spoke to people in a polite and gentle way.” from the report
Individual care
People and relatives were involved in care planning. Care plans covered health, mental health, social needs and daily support, and were updated after changes.
“People and their relatives told us they were involved in planning their care.” from the report
Activities and family contact
The home offered individual and group activities and supported people to keep in touch with friends and family.
“People enjoyed a range of activities in the service to engage and occupy them.” from the report
Strong monitoring
The registered manager carried out daily checks and monthly audits covering areas such as care plans, medicines, falls, nutrition and health and safety.
“The provider and registered manager maintained effective systems through which they assessed and monitored the quality of the service delivered.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How will you assess and update my relative's care plan if their health, mobility or behaviour changes?
- 02How do you make sure there are enough staff on each shift for my relative's needs?
- 03How will you support my relative with their medicines, including any allergies or changes prescribed by healthcare professionals?
- 04What activities are available that match my relative's interests, culture and abilities?
- 05How can I raise a concern or complaint, and how will you keep me informed about the response?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five CQC questions and the overall quality of the home. This explanation was written from the published report of 6 December 2017 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 Oatleigh Care Ltd
4 rated inspections over 8 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- April 2023Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2015Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2015Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- December 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 8 June 2011.
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
How to read CQC ratings and reports
What to check when you visit
At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Bromley
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 £1,260 a week. 83 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“She cared for my mum with Alzheimer's with endless patience and kindness, always arriving with a smile and a positive attitude”
“Usha rapidly became 'one of the family' and is sorely missed.”
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.