The Oaks Care Home

The Oaks Care Home has been inspected by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), with the report detailing the service's performance across key areas. This inspection focused on evaluating how effective, caring, and responsive the home is, building upon previous positive findings in safety and leadership. The report highlights various aspects of daily life and care provision within the home, offering insights into the experiences of residents and the practices of the staff.

Regarding safe care, the home ensures residents' health and wellbeing are managed through access to various professionals, and their nutritional needs are met with a choice of meals. Staff receive appropriate training and support to perform their roles effectively, and care plans are comprehensive, reflecting residents' life histories.

In terms of how effective the care is, residents' needs and preferences are thoroughly assessed before they move in, informing personalised care plans. The home operates within the legal framework of the Mental Capacity Act, with appropriate systems for decision-making and DoLS applications. While the pandemic impacted some training schedules, efforts are being made to ensure staff are up-to-date, with residents benefiting from access to healthcare services and a thoughtfully designed environment.

On caring practices, residents and their families consistently express satisfaction with the compassionate and respectful care provided by staff who know them well. Interactions are observed to be warm and appropriate, fostering a positive culture where residents' spiritual, cultural, and lifestyle needs are acknowledged. Privacy and dignity are maintained, and residents are actively involved in decisions about their care, with clear processes for feedback and the implementation of their suggestions.

Looking at how responsive the service is, care plans are personalised, with detailed "This is me" documents ensuring staff understand what is important to each resident. The home is transitioning to an electronic care planning system while maintaining detailed paper records. They accommodate diverse communication needs, offering information in various formats, and support residents in maintaining relationships and engaging in meaningful activities. The home has also proactively acquired new equipment to enhance resident engagement.

Concerning how well-led the service is, residents know how to provide feedback through multiple channels, and while they know how to complain, they report no need to do so due to their satisfaction. The home has established an accessible complaints process and uses a log to track any issues. End-of-life care is supported through advanced care plans and links with local hospices, though specific staff training in this area is being developed.