CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at The Oaks
Not yet rated: the CQC has not published a rated inspection for this home, which is usual for a new registration.
What inspectors found, January 2023
The Oaks is rated Good overall; inspectors found safe, kind care, but management oversight and records needed improvement.
This was an unannounced focused inspection on 7 December 2022. Inspectors looked only at Safe and Well-led because concerns had been raised about management oversight, safeguarding and pressure area care. They spoke with people, relatives, staff and managers, and checked care, medicines, recruitment and management records.
The home was rated Good for Safe. Inspectors found enough staff, safe recruitment, safe medicines administration overall, suitable safeguarding arrangements and a clean environment. They also found that people felt safe and were supported by kind and caring staff.
The home was rated Requires Improvement for Well-led. Recent management changes had affected oversight and staff morale. Records and risk management needed further work, and there was no registered manager in post. The provider had identified the shortfalls, brought in extra management support and created action plans.
The overall rating stayed Good because the other areas were not inspected and their previous ratings were carried forward. Inspectors made a recommendation about recording pressure area care risks.
People felt safe
People and relatives told inspectors they felt safe. Staff understood safeguarding and knew what action to take if people were at risk.
“I feel safe here, the staff are very good at looking after me” from the report
Enough staff
Inspectors found enough staff to care for people safely. Call bells were answered promptly.
“There were enough staff to care for people safely.” from the report
Open approach to improvement
The provider acknowledged the shortfalls and had brought in management support with detailed action plans.
“The provider was open and honest regarding these shortfalls and had taken appropriate action to address these in a timely way.” from the report
Pressure area care records
needs fixingSome care plans did not explain the measures staff needed to follow. Inspectors recommended reviewing best practice and updating the records.
“Care plans did not always contain basic explanations of the control measures staff needed to follow.” from the report
PRN medicines records
needs fixingRecords for medicines given when needed were not always complete. The provider was working on documentation, stock control and missed administrations.
“Records relating to the administration of 'as and when' required [PRN] medicines were not always in place.” from the report
Management arrangements
needs fixingManagement changes had weakened oversight and affected staff morale. There was no registered manager in post at the time of inspection.
“At the time of our inspection there was not a registered manager in post.” from the report
- 01How have you updated pressure area care plans, and how do you check that staff follow them?
- 02What has changed to make sure PRN medicines are fully recorded and stock checks are accurate?
- 03Who is currently responsible for managing the home, and what is the progress towards appointing a registered manager?
- 04How are you checking that the action plans have become part of everyday practice?
- 05What support is being provided to maintain staff morale during the management changes?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only; the other ratings were carried forward from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 27 January 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, April 2022
The Oaks rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and person-centred care, with some concerns about staffing and recruitment checks.
Inspectors visited on 16 and 18 March 2022 without announcing the visit. They spoke with people living in the home, relatives, staff and people representing residents. They also checked records, training, medicines, staffing, recruitment, infection control and quality checks.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found people were protected from abuse, received personalised care, and were treated with dignity and respect. They found medicines were managed safely and people had access to food, activities and healthcare.
There were some issues to watch. People and staff said they would benefit from more staff, some essential recruitment checks were incomplete, and renovations had been delayed. The provider recognised these points and took action on recruitment and staffing assurance.
The previous rating was Requires Improvement in 2019, with breaches of regulations under the previous provider. This inspection found that improvements had been made and the current provider was no longer in breach.
Safe medicines
The electronic medicines system alerted staff when medicines were late, and managers checked staff competence. Inspectors found medicines were stored, labelled and disposed of correctly.
“The computer system shows us if there is any missed medication. It gives me clear instructions for each record.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors found good relationships between staff and people. People were treated with dignity and compassion and were involved in decisions about their care.
“People were treated with dignity, respect and compassion.” from the report
Personalised support
People and relatives were involved in care plan reviews. Staff knew people well and supported their choices, communication needs and independence.
“Staff always give me a choice about what I want to do or not.” from the report
Strong improvement
The current provider and management team had made improvements across the service since the previous inspection. People, relatives and committees were involved in planning further improvements.
“Since the last inspection, the registered manager has implemented improvements across all aspects of the service.” from the report
Activities and healthcare
People had access to a wide range of individual and group activities. Health professionals visited regularly and staff worked with them to meet people's needs.
“There were a wide variety of activities offered, from one to one activities, to group activities.” from the report
Staffing pressure
minorInspectors found staffing levels met people's needs, but some people and staff said more staff were needed. One person said staff could not always come straight away.
“The demands on the staff mean they can't come straight away, but they come as soon as they can.” from the report
Recruitment checks
needs fixingSome staff did not have all essential recruitment checks completed at the time of the inspection. The provider updated its recruitment policy in response.
“Some staff did not have all the essential checks completed and the provider recognised this.” from the report
Delayed renovations
minorCommunal areas and bathrooms were being renovated, but the work had been delayed. The home had arrangements to maintain personal care and access to communal spaces during the work.
“The renovations had been delayed due to COVID-19.” from the report
- 01What staffing levels are currently in place, and how quickly can staff respond when someone needs help?
- 02Have all essential recruitment and safety checks now been completed for every member of staff?
- 03What is the timetable for finishing the delayed renovations to the communal areas and bathrooms?
- 04How are residents and relatives involved in decisions through the committees and meetings?
- 05How does the electronic medicines system identify and follow up late or missed medicines?
This inspection covered the residential and nursing care home, its premises and personal care delivered by the adjoining domiciliary agency; CQC did not inspect support where people did not receive personal care. This explanation was written from the published report of 27 April 2022 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
5 rated inspections over 7 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- January 2023Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- April 2022Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2019Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- August 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- April 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2020
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 17 January 2020.
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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37 live-in carers within about an hour of York
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 £1,270 a week. 32 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“Carla has been a god send with the implementation of bringing mum back home from respite care.”
“She was always 'just present enough': attentive, available, kind and engaging, but without ever over-stepping any boundary”
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.