CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Oxenford House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that the home was preventing infections, using PPE safely, arranging testing and following social distancing and hygiene measures. They also found that the infection-control policy was up to date.
- Effective?
- Good
- Does the care work? Training, consent, food and drink, working with GPs and nurses.
- Caring?
- Outstanding
- 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, May 2021
Oxenford House was inspected but not rated; inspectors found strong infection-control measures during the pandemic.
The announced inspection took place on 29 April 2021. It was part of a CQC thematic review of infection prevention and control in care homes.
Inspectors found robust entrance health checks, effective PPE use, regular COVID-19 testing and strong cleaning arrangements. They were assured that visitors, residents and staff were protected from infection risks.
The home had activities to support people's wellbeing and ways for relatives to stay in touch, including technology and safe face-to-face visits. The service was inspected but not rated, so this report does not give an overall quality rating.
Entrance checks
People entering the home had health checks to make sure they were symptom-free and well.
“Robust entrance procedures were in place which included a health check to ensure those entering the home were symptom free and in good health.” from the report
Clean environment
The home was very clean, with a detailed cleaning schedule followed by a dedicated team.
“The home was spotlessly clean and a rigorous cleaning schedule was in place and followed by a dedicated domestic team.” from the report
PPE and testing
Staff were trained in using PPE, and regular COVID-19 testing was carried out for residents and staff.
“Regular testing for Covid-19 was conducted for both people living at the service and the staff.” from the report
Contact with relatives
The home provided several ways for relatives to keep in touch, including technology and safe face-to-face visits.
“The provider ensured people's relatives were able to stay in touch with people.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are health checks carried out for people entering the home now?
- 02How often are residents and staff tested for COVID-19, and what happens if someone tests positive?
- 03What visiting arrangements are currently available for relatives?
- 04How often are cleaning audits carried out, and what changes have resulted from them?
- 05What is the current plan for managing a COVID-19 outbreak?
This was an announced thematic review focused on infection prevention and control under the Safe question; the service was inspected but not rated and the report gives no ratings for the other questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 13 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, February 2018
Rated Good overall, with Outstanding caring and inspectors finding safe, effective, responsive and well-led care.
Inspectors made an unannounced visit on 11 January 2018. They spoke with people living in the home, relatives, staff and a visiting healthcare professional. They looked at care plans, staff records, medicine records and management documents, and observed care.
People were found to be safe. There were enough staff, medicines were managed safely, risks were assessed and the home was clean. Staff had the right training and worked with healthcare professionals to support people's health.
The strongest area was caring, which improved from Good to Outstanding. Inspectors found exceptional kindness, respect and emotional support. The home remained Good overall, as it had been at the previous inspection, with Good ratings for Safe, Effective, Responsive and Well-led.
Exceptional kindness
Inspectors saw staff provide unusually warm, compassionate and personal care. They found that people were treated as individuals and received strong emotional support.
“People benefitted from extremely caring relationships with staff who went the extra mile to provide support at a personal level.” from the report
Dignity and choice
People were involved in planning their care and were supported to remain as independent as possible. Staff respected people's choices, privacy and preferred ways of communicating.
“Throughout the inspection, we observed staff treating people with dignity, respect and compassion.” from the report
Safe care
There were enough staff, medicines records were complete, and staff responded promptly to requests for help. Risks and incidents were recorded and reviewed.
“There were sufficient staff to meet people's needs. Staff were not rushed in their duties and had time to sit and chat with people.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans included people's histories, likes, dislikes and preferences. Activities and support were adapted to people's interests and changing needs.
“Care records contained details of people's personal histories, likes, dislikes and preferences and included people's preferred names, interests, hobbies and religious needs.” from the report
Open management
The home had a positive culture and used audits, meetings and surveys to improve care. People were also involved in giving views about potential new staff.
“The service had a positive culture that was open and honest.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you meet my relative's specific health needs and work with their GP or other healthcare professionals?
- 02How would you support my relative to remain independent while managing any risks?
- 03What activities and outings would match my relative's interests and preferences?
- 04How would you support my relative's communication needs, including if they needed large print, braille or another language?
- 05How would you record and respect my relative's wishes about end of life care?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five CQC questions, and the report says the overall rating remained Good while Caring improved to Outstanding. This explanation was written from the published report of 13 February 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 Oxenford House
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- May 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- February 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: OutstandingResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 24 November 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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38 live-in carers within about an hour of Oxfordshire
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 £1,300 a week. 32 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
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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.