Latest Inspection
This is the latest available inspection report for this service, carried out on 21st December 2009. it is an annual review prepared by CQC after examining previous reports and information from the provider. At the time of this report, CQC judged the service to be Good.
The inspector made no statutory requirements on the home as a result of this inspection
and there were no outstanding actions from the previous inspection report.
For extracts, read the latest CQC inspection for Oaktrees.
Annual service review
Name of Service: Oaktrees The quality rating for this care home is: The rating was made on: two star good service A quality rating is our assessment of how well a care home, agency or scheme is meeting the needs of the people who use it. We give a quality rating following a full review of the service. We call this review a ‘key’ inspection We do an annual service review when there has been no key inspection of the service in the last 12 months. It does not involve a visit to the service but is a summary of new information given to us, or collected by us, since the last key inspection or annual service review.
Has this annual service review changed our opinion of the service?
No You should read the last key inspection report for this service to get a full picture of how well outcomes for the people using the service are being met. The date by which we will do a key inspection: Name of inspector: Elaine Boismier Date of this annual service review: 1 6 1 1 2 0 0 9 Annual Service Review Page 1 of 6 Information about the service
Address of service: Warboys Road Oldhurst Cambridgeshire PE28 3AA 01487822878 01487822878 Telephone number: Fax number: Email address: Provider web address:
Name of registered provider(s): Conditions of registration: Category(ies) : learning disability CareTech Community Services (No.2) Ltd Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 Over 65 6 0 Have there been any changes in the ownership, management or the No service’s registration details in the last 12 months? If yes, what have they been: Date of last key inspection: Date of last annual service review (if applicable): Brief description of the service Oak Trees is a large detached house situated at the end of a cul-de-sac in the village of Oldhurst. The home is set back from the road in mature tree lined gardens. The rear garden gives people who live at the home a private, safe outdoor space. There is a large conservatory providing a lounge and a dining area, and there is an additional lounge. Bedrooms are found on the ground and first floors, are all for single occupation The village amenities are within walking distance but these are limited. All other amenities in local towns of St Ives, Huntingdon and March are accessed by the homes transport or local bus service. Information about fees, including any additional costs, can be obtained from the home. A copy of our inspection reports can be obtained from the home, on request, or via our website at www.cqc.org.uk Annual Service Review Page 2 of 6 Service update since the last key inspection or annual service review:
What did we do for this annual service review? We looked at information we have received from the home since our last inspection that was carried out on the 3rd January 2008 and since our last Annual Service Review that we carried out on the 15th January 2009. We looked at the results of surveys we have received from four of the residents and from three of the staff. We looked at the report of our last inspection that took place in January 2008. We looked at the Annual Quality Assurance Assessment (AQAA) that was completed by the Registered Manager. The AQAA is a self-assessment that focuses on how well outcomes are being met for people using the service. It also gave us some numerical information about the service. What has this told us about the service? The residents surveys were completed on behalf of the residents and all of these surveys provided evidence that the care provided is of a good standard and that the residents are supported, by the home, in living a flexible day-to day life. Comments received from these surveys included the following: Staff are fun and Food is good. Other comments included, Oaktrees provides an excellent true home for (my relative). (They) appear(s) happy and settled there. All of these residents surveys said that the person could decide what they would like to do each day, including during the evening and the weekends. On the occasions when the person is unable to actively decide, due to their complex communication levels, we were told, from one of these surveys, that Staff try to arrange evening activities that they know (my relative) enjoys, as often as possible. All of the residents surveys said that the person, or the person completing the survey on their behalf, knew how to make a complaint and that the staff listened to what the resident was telling them. When verbal communication would be difficult for the resident to say how they felt we read, from one of the surveys that, Staff who know (my relative) can pick up on (their) mood & try to establish what is bothering (them). According to the AQAA the home has received no complaints within the last twelve months and we have no record of complaints except information provided by the home with regards to a concern made, from a visitor about the external lighting of the premises. This tells us that people are satisfied with their care but they can be confident that they will be listened to if they are unhappy about something and that they can be confident that action will be taken in response to any concerns that they might have. All of the residents surveys said that the staff treated them well and all of the staff surveys said that the team of staff were well motivated and worked well together ...giving a positive atatude (sic) around the house making the home a lot calmer and happier for the service users. Another of these staff surveys endorsed this view, saying ...as a team we run a very happy home and all our service users needs are Annual Service Review Page 3 of 6 met to a very high level. The AQAA also noted that there is a motivated and welltrained team of staff that provides ... a consistent approach to the care and well being of the service users. A requirement was made following our last visits to the service, in 2008, and the AQAA told us what action has been taken with regards to the maintenance of the home, Gravel has been laid within the grounds. Two service users helped to lay the gravel and tidy up the garden to keep it maintained. Ongoing investigations have been carried out to assess the cracks appearing within the home. Regular contact with Head Office to keep them informed of development regarding the cracks. All of the staff surveys said that the person was satisfied with the support they received and with the training, including ongoing training, that they have attended. According to the AQAA five of the current eleven staff have attended an approved induction training (although it is not clear if this is a new induction training programme) and nine of the eleven care staff have gained an National Vocational Qualification, level 2 or equivalent, in care i.e. 81.8 . This tells us that the residents should be in safe hands. All of the staff surveys said that there was usually enough staff on duty, although the AQAA highlighted a problem of staff vacancies that have been filled with agency staff. The AQAA acknowledged that the use of such staff posed some issue with the staff not completely knowing the specialist needs of the individual residents compared to the level of such knowledge of the permanent members of the staff. Due to such concerns the home has taken action to reduce such difficulties by ensuring that the Care plans are detailed and reviewed regularly so that agency staff have a good understanding of each service user. The AQAA also told us that the home, to reduce the risk of a compromise in the standard of care provided, uses Well trained, regular agency whom the service users are happy to have in their home. This tells us that the management of the home has identified risks of lack of continuity of care provided to the residents and has taken appropriate and satisfactory action to reduce such risks. This was a requirement made at our last visit to the home, in 2008. The AQAA was received in a timely manner and told us that the home has a good quality assurance system in place. It identified areas where the home does well in; where it has improved and what plans are to be taken to improve areas that have been identified. For example we read, for Standards 6 to 10, that the residents have access to healthcare professionals, including specialist speech and language therapy; the knowledge of staff has improved with regards to supporting and managing people who have challenging behaviours and the home intends to improve the way it enables the residents in managing their own personal care. Such identified areas, as detailed within the AQAA, also told us that the residents care is the main focus of the delivery of the service. The residents surveys views about activities and choice are supported by the information provided within the AQAA. The AQAA explained that there are communication boards that staff use to elicit what the resident would like to do and that the residents decisions are recorded: activities, according to the AQAA, include ...household chores, activity planning, menu planning.... The AQAA noted that with the improved communication methods there has been a
Annual Service Review Page 4 of 6 reduction of incidents of any of the residents exhibiting challenging behaviours and we saw, comparing the last AQAA to the current AQAA that this is the case: the AQAA dated 29th December 2008 told us that there were thirty-six incidents when restraint was used: the AQAA dated the 5th November 2009 said that the number of incidents where restraint was used was three. The residents benefit from a stable management of the home as, according to the AQAA, the Registered Manager has been in post since 2000 and she has achieved the registered managers award. The outcomes for the residents are also positive as we have determined from information provided in the surveys and information provided from the AQAA. In addition we have no record of concerns about the service: this includes safeguarding alerts and complaints made against the home. The residents should also be safe from the risk of harm as fifteen care staff (the home currently employs eleven care staff so it is not clear if the additional staff are agencybut we have no concerns about this possible numerical discrepancy) have attended training in safe food handling and seven of these have attended training in the prevention and control of infection. The AQAA told us that service checks were in date for fire detection and fire fighting equipment and emergency lighting. We have received notifications as required. For example we received a notification about incorrect administration of medication although we were satisfied that the notification provided further information that told us what action had been taken, by the home, to ensure that such an untoward occurrence did not recur and we have received no other notification that medication has not been administered as prescribed. What are we going to do as a result of this annual service review? We consider that Oaktrees provides good quality outcomes for the people who live at the home and, as a result, we will not change our inspection schedule, with the next key unannounced inspection being carried out no later than 2nd January 2011. We may inspect the service at any time should we have concerns about the health, welfare and safety of the residents. Annual Service Review Page 5 of 6 Reader Information
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