The Oaks Care Home

The Oaks Care Home provides residential care for up to 33 individuals, with 20 residents at the time of this inspection. This report details significant improvements made since the previous inspection, addressing key areas of care and management. Residents and their families generally report feeling safe and well-supported. The home has made substantial progress in ensuring the well-being and safety of its residents.

On safety, residents and their families confirmed they feel safe, and staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities, with effective procedures in place for reporting and investigating concerns. Risks to residents are actively managed through detailed assessments, and environmental and infection control risks are appropriately handled, including regular checks of equipment and premises. Recruitment practices are now robust, ensuring only suitable staff are employed, and while staffing levels are generally considered adequate by residents and families, some staff noted a desire for more time for social interaction. Medicines are administered safely, with secure storage and accurate record-keeping.

In terms of how effective the care is, the home now consistently supports residents to have choice and control in their lives, working within the principles of the Mental Capacity Act, although some administrative updates are still needed regarding consent forms and specific MCA assessments. Residents’ healthcare needs are monitored and addressed promptly, with positive feedback from healthcare professionals regarding the service's ability to manage these needs. Staff receive appropriate induction and ongoing training, which has improved significantly, and they feel well-supported by the management team, though regular one-to-one supervision is still being embedded.

Regarding caring interactions, staff were observed to be kind and caring, with positive interactions noted between staff and residents throughout the inspection. Residents and their families expressed satisfaction with the compassionate approach of the staff.

The service's responsiveness has seen positive developments, with residents being supported to access appropriate healthcare services when needed and feedback from health and social care professionals highlighting improvements in how the service manages residents' health needs. The home facilitates visits for residents, with no restrictions in place.

In how well-led the service is, there has been a substantial turnaround, with the management team demonstrating openness, approachability, and a clear commitment to improvement. Robust quality assurance systems are in place to monitor and enhance the quality of care, and the team is proactive in addressing concerns and understanding their regulatory responsibilities. Significant improvements have been made following previous regulatory concerns, leading to the removal of special measures.