CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at The Oaks
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found that risks, safeguarding, medicines, infection control and emergency arrangements were managed safely. They noted that staffing could occasionally be lower for a short time when sickness occurred.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff understood people's needs and had relevant training and support. People's dietary needs, healthcare, consent and legal safeguards were addressed.
- Caring?
- Good
- People were treated with kindness, dignity and respect. Staff supported communication, independence and involvement in everyday choices.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans were detailed and kept up to date. People were supported with activities they chose, and systems were in place to handle complaints even though none had been received.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found clear management arrangements, positive feedback about leadership and regular audits. The home worked with families and other professionals.
What inspectors found, December 2018
Rated Good in all five areas; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with only minor issues noted.
This was an unannounced scheduled inspection on 3 December 2018. Two inspectors reviewed the home's records, care files, staff files, audits and checks. They observed people and staff, and spoke with relatives, staff, managers and health professionals.
The home supported six people with learning disabilities and autism. Inspectors found that people were safe, treated with kindness and supported to make choices. Medicines, risks, staffing, food, healthcare and care planning were generally managed well.
The overall rating was Good, with Good ratings for Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. This was the same overall rating and the same rating in every area as the previous inspection in March 2016.
Safe care
Inspectors found systems for safeguarding, risk management, medicines, infection control and emergencies. They concluded that legal requirements were met.
“People were safe and protected from avoidable harm. Legal requirements were met.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
People were observed receiving kind care. Staff understood people's communication methods and supported privacy, dignity and independence.
“people living in the home were consistently treated with kindness and received good care.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans described people's needs, preferences and communication. People were offered activities and meals based on their choices.
“Care plans contained detailed information about people's individual needs and how to support these effectively.” from the report
Good oversight
The home had regular audits and monitoring, with action plans used to improve care. Staff and professionals gave positive feedback about the management.
“A variety of regular audits and quality monitoring was taking place that demonstrated the quality of the service provided to people.” from the report
Short staffing during sickness
needs fixingStaffing was sufficient during the inspection, but one staff member said numbers could sometimes be lower briefly when someone was off sick. The home used a consistent agency team to cover identified gaps.
“the staffing numbers could be lower for a short time when sickness occurred.” from the report
Medicine temperature records
needs fixingMedicine storage was safe overall, but inspectors saw some gaps in temperature checks. The manager said staff would be required to complete these checks daily.
“Where gaps were seen the registered manager confirmed they would ensure staff undertook these checks daily.” from the report
Privacy issue identified and fixed
minorInspectors found one bedroom window without a blind. The manager acted immediately to protect the person's privacy.
“The registered manager took immediate action to ensure the privacy of this person was protected.” from the report
- 01How do you keep staffing levels safe when staff are off sick?
- 02How are medicine storage temperatures checked and recorded every day?
- 03How will you involve my relative and our family in care plan reviews and decisions?
- 04How do staff communicate with people who have limited verbal communication?
- 05What activities are currently available based on each person's interests and choices?
This was an unannounced inspection of the whole care home and all five CQC questions, including accommodation and personal care. This explanation was written from the published report of 29 December 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
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- December 2018Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2014
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 29 April 2014.
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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85 live-in carers within about an hour of Lancashire
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. 78 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“She understands the needs of an elderly person in the early stages of dementia and has treated my mother with great kindness and skill.”
“Thanks to Tracy, Dad was always immaculately dressed and clean, his meals were all home cooked and nutritionally well balanced and his home was always kept really clean and tidy.”
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.