The Oakes

We found the following examples of good practice.

The service had effective systems in place for managing the Covid-19 pandemic to keep people and staff safe. There was a strong focus on promoting the safety and wellbeing of people. The service used surveys to identify the needs of people and staff in order to manage any risks associated with Covid-19 and provide additional support and reassurance if required.

Staff were provided with the appropriate training and personal protective equipment (PPE) was made available to people and staff. Infection control measures and cleaning regimes had been increased and additional hand sanitising stations were available throughout the service.

The service was creative in its approach to supporting people with learning disabilities to wear PPE that had been personalised to reflect their personalities and interests.

There was signage throughout the service encouraging handwashing and the correct wearing and disposal of PPE. Notices on doors provided guidance as to the numbers of people allowed to enter each room to ensure safe social distancing could be maintained.

The home environment had been adapted to create more space for social distancing and the garden space was being fully utilised and had been further developed to promote occupation and social interaction in a safe way.

People continued to be supported to live meaningful lives day to day. Thought had been given to ensure people could still access the community, enjoy outdoor activities and meet up with friends and relatives within the constraints of current government guidance to ensure their safety.

Since visiting had resumed, a designated area had been made safe for visits utilising outdoors space. A booking system and screening checks were in place to protect people from the risk of cross contamination.

The provider demonstrated a commitment to supporting staff who were shielding and had introduced new staff incentives to show staff they were valued and appreciated.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

The five questions we ask about services and what we found