CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at The Oaks Residential Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found systems to safeguard people, assess risks, manage medicines and prevent infection. They also found enough staff and robust recruitment checks.
- Effective?
- Good
- People's needs were assessed before admission. Staff received training and support, and people were helped with food, drink, healthcare and decisions about their care.
- Caring?
- Good
- People and relatives said staff were caring. Inspectors saw polite care and found that privacy, dignity, equality and independence were respected.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans were personalised and regularly reviewed. People could take part in activities, communicate in ways suited to them, raise complaints and record their end of life wishes.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found a positive culture, clear staff roles and quality checks. People, relatives and staff were able to give feedback and be involved in the home.
What inspectors found, March 2023
Rated Good in all five areas; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with visiting rules widened during the inspection.
The inspection was unannounced and took place on 8 February 2023. One inspector spoke with people, relatives, staff and a visiting health professional. They observed care and reviewed care, medicines, recruitment and management records.
The home was providing personal care to 21 older people, most of whom were living with dementia. Inspectors found systems to protect people from abuse, assess risks, manage medicines and prevent infection. They also found enough staff and suitable recruitment checks.
Care was assessed as effective, caring and responsive. People had personalised care plans, choices at mealtimes, help to access healthcare and activities. Staff were described as kind, and people's privacy, dignity and independence were respected.
All five CQC questions were rated Good. This means inspectors found consistently good outcomes and good management at the time of the inspection. The inspection was prompted partly by safeguarding concerns and concerns about visiting, but the report says the home had investigated appropriately and agreed to widen visiting times and remove its booking system.
Safeguarding and safety
The home had safeguarding systems and investigated the concerns that led partly to this inspection. Risks, equipment, premises and incidents were monitored.
“We found systems and processes in place to keep people safe.” from the report
Medicines
Inspectors observed medicines being given carefully and found the medicines checked were in order. Records and staff competency were also checked.
“We counted four people's medicines and found them all to be in order.” from the report
Personalised care
Care plans included people's needs, preferences, life history and interests. Staff knew people well and updated records when needs changed.
“These were tailored to people's individual needs making them person centred.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People and relatives spoke positively about staff. Inspectors saw staff protecting privacy and dignity and encouraging people to do things for themselves.
“We observed staff working in a professional manner, interacting politely with people and residents.” from the report
Activities and communication
People could join activities and make choices about taking part. The home used pictorial menus and other approaches to support communication.
“We observed people taking part in activities, using light sensor games in communal areas, and saw people were able to make choices with their participation with activities.” from the report
Visiting arrangements
needs fixingThe inspection was partly prompted by concerns that visiting rules might be restrictive. The rules did not breach guidance, but the home agreed to widen visiting times and remove the booking system.
“The service's rules for visiting did not contravene the guidance but we understood why the rules were perceived as restrictive.” from the report
- 01What are the current visiting times, and can family visit without booking?
- 02How will you assess and review my relative's risks, including falls, mobility and medicines?
- 03How often will my relative's care plan be reviewed, and how will the family be involved?
- 04What activities and communication support would be available for my relative, especially if they are living with dementia?
- 05How would you respond if my relative or our family wanted to make a complaint?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five key questions, including infection prevention and control, and was prompted partly by safeguarding and visiting concerns. This explanation was written from the published report of 29 March 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, January 2018
The Oaks Residential Care Home was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and responsive care, with some medicines storage and activities issues.
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection on 6 and 7 December 2017. Inspectors observed care, spoke with people using the home, relatives, staff and managers, and checked care, medicines, staffing, recruitment and other records.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines systems, suitable training, good healthcare support, kind care and care plans that reflected people's needs.
There were some points to watch. Medicines storage was cramped and there was excess stock, although action had already been taken. The activity coordinator was absent and a replacement had not yet started, but staff and students continued activities. The overall Good rating remained unchanged from the previous inspection in October 2015.
Staffing and safety
Inspectors found that staffing levels were sufficient and that staff had time to support and talk with people.
“From our observations, from looking at staff rotas and from talking to people we found that staffing levels were sufficient to meet people's needs and to support them safely.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff were described and observed as kind, patient and gentle. They protected people's privacy and encouraged independence.
“We saw that staff supported people in a kind and gentle manner and responded to them in a friendly and patient way.” from the report
Individual care
Care plans recorded people's preferences, life histories and changing needs. They were reviewed each month and updated when needed.
“Each person had a care plan which contained information about their likes and dislikes, what they preferred to be called and their life history.” from the report
Good management
The home had clear management arrangements and systems for checking quality. Feedback from people, relatives and professionals was sought and acted on.
“People's opinions and feedback were actively sought and valued.” from the report
Medicines storage
needs fixingMedicines storage was very cramped and there was excess stock. Inspectors said this made checking less effective and increased the risk of error, although the manager had started corrective action.
“We found that medicines storage facilities were very cramped and included an excess stock of medicines.” from the report
Temporary gap in activities
minorThe activity coordinator had been unable to work and the replacement had not yet started. Other staff and students continued activities in the meantime.
“Unfortunately, the activity coordinator had not been able to work recently and a new activity coordinator had been recruited but had not started work.” from the report
- 01What changes have been made to medicines storage and stock control since this inspection?
- 02How are medicines now audited, and how are missed or unadministered medicines followed up?
- 03Has the new activity coordinator started, and what regular activities are now available?
- 04How will you make sure activities reflect each person's interests and abilities?
- 05How are families involved in reviewing and updating care plans?
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 18 January 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 Residential Care Home
3 rated inspections over 7 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- March 2023Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at The Oaks Residential Care Home →
- January 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at The Oaks Residential Care Home →
- November 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 21 January 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 Havering
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 £1,230 a week. 81 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“Sidonia is a first class live-in carer whose dedication and thoughtfulness made her stay a happy experience.”
“Always on time and with a lovely smile for my mum. Theresa is kind and sensitive to my mum's needs.”
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.