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CQC report explained · a residential care home, run by CareTech Community Services

Oaklands

183 Faversham Road, Ashford, TN24 9AE

Goodpublished 18 November 2023, 2 years ago

Rated Good: inspectors found the service performing well and meeting their expectations.

The five questions inspectors ask
Safe?
Good
People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Inspectors found suitable staffing, recruitment, risk management, medicines systems and infection control, although an issue with unguarded radiators was identified and fixed.
Effective?
Good
This key question was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was used when calculating the overall rating.
Caring?
Outstanding
This key question was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was used when calculating the overall rating.
Responsive?
Good
This key question was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was used when calculating the overall rating.
Well-led?
Good
The service had stable management, effective quality checks and an open culture. People, relatives, staff and professionals were involved and communication was described positively.
The latest report, explained

What inspectors found, November 2023

Oaklands was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and person-centred care, with one radiator safety issue fixed during the inspection.

The inspection was unannounced and took place on 19 October 2023. One inspector visited, while another contacted relatives and professionals. Inspectors spoke with people and staff, observed care, and checked care, medicines, recruitment, health and safety and management records.

People were supported to be independent, make choices and take part in social activities. Inspectors found kind care, enough staff, suitable training and good support for people's health, medicines and emotional needs. Relatives and professionals gave positive feedback.

The home was rated Good overall. Safe and Well-led were both rated Good. This inspection directly assessed those areas. Ratings for the other key questions were carried over from the previous inspection, and the overall rating remained Good.

What inspectors praised

  • Promoting independence

    Staff supported people to use their strengths and do as much as possible for themselves. People had choices about daily life, activities and social events.

    “Staff supported people's strengths and promoted what they could do for themselves.” from the report

  • Active lives

    People were supported to stay busy and take part in activities and social events that mattered to them.

    “People were supported to be busy and to have active lives that included life activities and social events.” from the report

  • Kind and individual care

    Inspectors saw kind interactions. Staff knew people's needs, including what caused anxiety and how to support people when distressed.

    “Staff knew people well and responded to all their individual needs.” from the report

  • Staffing and training

    There were enough staff, with flexible arrangements for people's individual needs and activities. Staff training included autism and positive behavioural support.

    “There were enough staff to meet people's needs and wishes.” from the report

  • Open management

    Managers were approachable and communication with relatives and professionals was positive. Quality systems were used to identify and address issues.

    “The registered manager had established a positive and inclusive environment where people and staff felt valued and listened to.” from the report
What inspectors were concerned about

  • Unguarded radiators

    minor

    Inspectors found that some radiators had not been guarded. The management team reviewed this and put guards in place during the inspection.

    “radiators that had not been guarded were reviewed and guarded to ensure people's safety.” from the report
Questions to ask them, based on this report
  1. 01What checks are now in place to make sure all radiators remain guarded?
  2. 02How will you support my relative to stay independent while managing any risks?
  3. 03How are medicines given on an 'as and when required' basis recorded and reviewed?
  4. 04How will my relative be supported to take part in activities, outings and social events?
  5. 05What were the ratings for Effective, Caring and Responsive at the previous inspection, and are any improvements planned in those areas?

This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led, including infection prevention and control; the other key question ratings were carried over from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 18 November 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.

The story over the years

Every inspection of Oaklands

2 rated inspections over 7 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.

  1. November 2023Goodcurrent ratingstayed Good
    Safe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: OutstandingResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good

    Read what inspectors found at Oaklands →

  2. December 2016Good
    Safe: GoodWell-led: Good

    We are reading this report · the original is on cqc.org.uk

  3. March 2014

    Report published without a new overall rating.

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  4. November 2012

    Report published without a new overall rating.

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  5. November 2010

    Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 25 November 2010.

Ratings and report dates from the Care Quality Commission. A service can also be visited without a new rating being published, so the timeline shows published inspections, not every contact the CQC has had with the service.

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