CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at The Oaks
Rated Outstanding: inspectors found the home performing exceptionally well.
- Safe?
- Good
- There were enough staff, risks were assessed and staff were trained to support people safely. Medicines were managed safely overall, but the home had not checked with a pharmacist about possible interactions between medicines and food.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff had a structured four-week induction, regular training and supervision. People were supported with food, drink, healthcare and decisions about their care in line with the Mental Capacity Act.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff were kind, understood people's individual needs and respected privacy, dignity and everyday choices. People were supported to communicate and build independence.
- Responsive?
- Outstanding
- Care plans reflected individual preferences, routines and support needs. People were supported to follow hobbies, use the community, maintain relationships and raise concerns.
- Well-led?
- Outstanding
- The home had strong systems for monitoring care, acting on concerns and involving people in the running of the service. Staff were supported to develop and the provider promoted continuous improvement.
What inspectors found, March 2018
Rated Outstanding overall; inspectors found highly personalised care and strong leadership, with minor medicines and drink-thickening guidance issues.
Inspectors visited on 20 and 21 September 2017. This was an announced inspection and the first inspection since the home was registered. They spoke with people, relatives and staff, and reviewed care plans, medicines, staffing, training and quality checks.
The home was rated Good for Safe, Effective and Caring. Inspectors found enough trained staff, safe recruitment, personalised support and respect for people's choices, privacy and dignity. Medicines were generally managed safely, but advice from a pharmacist was needed about medicines taken with food.
The home was rated Outstanding for Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found care plans tailored to each person, strong support for activities and community life, and effective systems for listening to people and improving the service. Overall, Outstanding means the inspection found exceptional performance in some areas, alongside Good performance in the other three areas.
Flexible staffing
Staffing was planned around people's routines and could be adjusted when people wanted extra support or activities. Staff were familiar with people's needs.
“There was a core number of staff offering support to people but support hours could be flexible to ensure that people received the support they required at the times that they wanted to.” from the report
Positive behaviour support
Specialist staff worked with the home to reduce anxiety, risky behaviour and the need for physical intervention. This helped people access more community and social activities.
“This had resulted in people having greater access to the community and vocational and social activities.” from the report
Personalised care
Care plans covered people's preferences, routines, communication, health, social and emotional needs. Staff adapted their approach to each person.
“Care plans took into account all areas of people's lives including their mobility, nutrition, physical needs, social needs and their cultural and emotional needs.” from the report
Meaningful lives
People were supported to choose activities, maintain hobbies, work, shop, eat out and spend time in the community. Activities were matched to each person's mood and ability to engage.
“People were supported to pursue activities that they enjoyed, where meaningful to them and promoted their wellbeing.” from the report
People's involvement
People and families were involved in care planning, service reviews, meetings and, where they wished, staff recruitment. Their feedback was used to make changes.
“People living at the home had a survey to complete. The provider had produced this in a format which was accessible to them.” from the report
Medicines taken with food
needs fixingOne person's medicine was given with food, but the home had not checked with a pharmacist whether the food could affect the medicine. The report says this could make some medicines less effective.
“One person had their medicines administered with food. This had been agreed by their GP however, the registered manager had not checked with a pharmacist if any considerations needed to be taken into account.” from the report
Thickened drinks guidance
needs fixingA person needed drinks thickened to reduce the risk of choking, but the instructions about the correct thickness were not readily available. The manager agreed to make the guidance clearer.
“The guidance around how thick the drinks should be was not readily available. The registered manager agreed to make the guidance clearer to all staff.” from the report
- 01What advice did the home obtain from a pharmacist about medicines given with food, and how is that advice recorded now?
- 02How do staff know the correct thickness for drinks, and how is this checked for the person who needs them thickened?
- 03How are people and their families involved in reviewing care plans and changes to support?
- 04How does the home reduce the use of physical intervention when someone is distressed or anxious?
- 05How can residents take part in recruitment, residents' meetings and decisions about the home?
This was an announced first inspection covering all five CQC questions, including discussions with people, relatives and staff and reviews of care, staffing, medicines and quality records. This explanation was written from the published report of 15 March 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 The Oaks
Each visit the CQC has published, newest first, back to the day the home was registered.
- March 2018Outstandingcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Outstanding
- October 2015
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 30 October 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.
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
9 live-in carers within about an hour of Lincolnshire
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.
8 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Martin was more than a carer, he managed the home and became my uncle's best friend, enriching his life during his last few years.”
“Magda was always positive and proactive about trying new things to keep dad busy. She also introduced new ideas for keeping dad healthy.”
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.