This inspection took place on 27 June 2018 and was unannounced. This was a first ratings inspection.

Oak House is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. Oak house accommodates up to eight people in an adapted building with shared and single occupancy flats. At the time of the inspection there were seven people living in the care home.

There was a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

People were protected from abuse by staff that understood how to recognise the signs and report concerns. Risks were assessed and planned for to support people to stay safe. Premises and equipment were maintained to minimise the risk of cross infection. People were supported by sufficient safely recruited staff. Medicines were administered and managed safely. The registered manager had systems in place to learn when things went wrong.

People’s needs were assessed and they had effective care plans in place. Staff were trained to meet people’s needs and people received consistent support. People were supported to make choices about meals and maintain a healthy diet. The environment was adapted to meet the needs of people. People were supported to maintain their health and wellbeing. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People were supported by staff that were kind and caring. Staff had developed good relationships with people and understood how to communicate with them effectively. People were supported to make decisions and choices and retain their independence. People were treated with dignity and respect.

People’s needs and preferences were understood by staff, assessments had been carried out of their diverse needs and plans put in place to meet them. People’s needs were reviewed regularly and they were able to maintain their interests. People understood how to make a complaint and there was a system in place to investigate these. There was a system in place to consider people’s wishes for end of life care.

We found systems in place to check on the quality of the service people received and the registered manager used information from these to make improvements. The registered manager had systems in place to monitor the delivery of people’s care and people, relatives and staff were involved in the service.