Oakwood House Care Home 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.

Oakwood House Care Home accommodates up to 50 older people in a two-storey purpose built building.

This unannounced comprehensive inspection took place on the 11 June 2018. This is the first inspection since the provider was registered with the Care Quality Commission in January 2017.

There was not 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. A manager was in post and was in the process of applying to the Commission for registration.

People felt safe and staff knew how to respond to possible harm and how to reduce risks to people.

People’s individual risks to their health and welfare were assessed and strategies were in place to minimise any risks identified. Care records were regularly reviewed and revised according to any change in need to ensure staff had current information to meet people’s needs. .

The environment was clean and a safe place for people to live. Equipment was serviced and maintained to ensure it was fit for purpose and safe to use. There was an adequate supply of personal protective equipment such as gloves and aprons, for staff to wear to prevent the risk of cross infection.

People were helped to take their medicines by staff who were trained and competent to do so.

People were cared for by enough staff, who were trained and well supported to carry out their role effectively. Pre-employment checks were completed on staff to ensure they were suitable to look after people who used the service.

Staff demonstrated a good understanding of the principles of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS); these provide legal safeguards for people who may be unable to make their own decisions.

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 had access to healthcare professionals and their healthcare needs were met. Care records confirmed visits to and from General Practitioners (GP's) and other healthcare professionals.

People were supported to eat and drink sufficient amounts of food and drink of their choice. Specialist diets were also provided as needed

Staff knew people they supported and provided a personalised service in a caring way. Care plans provided detailed information for staff on how to support people to meet their care and support needs. Staff demonstrated a good understanding of protecting and respecting people's human rights.

People were able to choose whether or not to participate in a range of activities within the service and received the support they needed to help them to do this.

Information was available and people were supported to access an independent advocacy service if they required to act on their behalf.

People were involved in the running of the service. Regular meetings were held for people and their relatives so that they could discuss any issues or make recommendations for improvements in how the service was run.

There was a process in place so that people’s concerns and complaints were listened to and were acted upon. Complaints received were responded to and resolved in line with the providers policy

Quality monitoring procedures were in place and action was taken where improvements were identified. There were clear management arrangements in place. Staff, people and their relat