Red Oaks Care Community

Updated 5 October 2022

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by one inspector and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

Red Oaks is a 'care home'. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

At the time of our inspection there was a manager in post who had submitted their registered managers application to CQC.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection as well as the information shared with us by the local authority, such as details of the safeguarding concerns that had been raised. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.

During the inspection

We spoke with six people who used the service and five relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with six members of staff including the cook, senior care staff, care assistant, domestic staff, manager and the provider’s representative.

We reviewed a range of records. This included five people's care records and medication records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. We reviewed training data and the provider’s quality assurance records.

Updated 5 October 2022

Red Oaks Care Community is a care home that provides personal care for up to 40 people in one adapted building. It is registered to provide a service to older people who may be living with dementia or physical disability. At the time of the inspection 35 people lived at the home.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

Improvement had been made to ensure medicines were administered safely. However, further improvement was required in the management and recording of medicine room and fridge temperatures. Staff did not always follow the providers infection control policy.

Regular safety checks were in place to ensure the premises were safe. Risks for people were assessed and monitored. People were protected from harm and abuse as staff were knowledgeable and had a good understanding how to keep people safe. Enough staff were available to respond to people’s needs in a timely manner. Accident and incidents were investigated, and measures were in place to prevent recurrence.

Staff worked well with other healthcare professionals. Referrals were submitted in a timely manner and we received positive feedback from a healthcare professional on the day of our visit. Care files contained detailed information for staff to support people and provide effective care. People’s needs were assessed, and staff were supported to acquire relevant skills and experience for their roles. People were supported to have sufficient to eat and drink and had a calm and enjoyable dining experience. The provider was working towards a refurbishment plan to ensure the building would be maintained to a high standard.

The provider was working in line with the principles of the mental capacity act 2005. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

The care people received was tailored to their individual needs. Care plans reflected people’s needs, their preferences and their choices. People were supported to maintain good well-being and reduce the risk of social isolation.

The service had systems in place to monitor and share continuous learning. Management showed leadership and were clear about their role and responsibilities. We received mostly positive feedback about the management of the service from people, families and staff. However, some felt communication could be improved. There was a positive culture throughout the service. Management was open and honest, and worked well with healthcare professionals.

We have made a recommendation in regard to the providers communication and involvement policy.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 21 March 2022).

The provider completed an action plan after the previous inspection published 21 March 2022 to show what they would do and by when to improve.

At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

Why we inspected

We undertook this focused inspection to check whether the Warning Notice we previously served in relation to Regulation 17 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 had been met. The overall rating for the service has changed following this inspection.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Red Oaks on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.