CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Acorn
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People told inspectors they felt safe. There were enough staff, medicines were managed safely, risks were assessed and staff understood safeguarding procedures.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff had suitable training and knew people well. People's health needs were monitored, and advice from health and social care professionals was acted on.
- Caring?
- Good
- People and relatives spoke positively about staff. Inspectors saw respectful, kind support, with people involved in activities and given privacy and independence.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Support was adapted to people's individual needs, preferences and changing circumstances. People were supported with activities, relationships, community access and independence.
- Well-led?
- Good
- People, relatives, staff and professionals spoke positively about the management. The home had checks on care, medicines, training, recruitment, the environment and health and safety.
What inspectors found, April 2018
Acorn is rated Good; inspectors found safe, caring and person-centred support, with some records and end-of-life planning needing improvement.
This was an unannounced inspection on 15 and 19 March 2018. It was the first inspection since the provider changed to a new legal entity. The inspector observed care, spoke with people, relatives, staff and health professionals, and checked care records, staffing, training and other documents.
The home supported six men with learning disabilities or mental health needs. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines management, suitable training and good risk planning. People were treated with dignity, involved in decisions and supported to stay in contact with family, use the community and build independence.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors noted some shortfalls, including limited recording of progress towards people's goals, a frayed carpet and a need to make end-of-life plans more personal.
Respectful care
People were treated with dignity and staff understood their individual preferences. Inspectors saw staff knocking and waiting before entering bedrooms.
“People were treated in a dignified, caring manner, which demonstrated that their rights were protected.” from the report
Involvement and choice
People helped shape the running of the home, including activities, menus and care plans. Monthly meetings and regular one-to-one discussions were used to hear their views.
“People were very much involved and included in the running of the service with resident meetings and key worker meetings being organised monthly.” from the report
Promoting independence
People were supported to use the community, work towards goals and move to more independent living when this was what they wanted.
“People were encouraged to be independent, take an active role in life at Acorn, and have control over their lives.” from the report
Good safety arrangements
Inspectors found safe medicines systems, suitable staffing, risk assessments, safeguarding procedures and checks on the building and equipment.
“People received a safe service because risks to their health and safety were being well managed.” from the report
Limited progress records
needs fixingDaily records did not initially give enough detail about progress towards people's goals. The manager addressed this with staff during the inspection, and inspectors saw improvement on the second day.
“These did not contain sufficient information on any progress and often the staff had only recorded 'Yes' or 'No'.” from the report
Frayed carpet
minorThe carpet on the top landing was frayed at the edges. The manager said it was being replaced.
“The carpet on the top landing was frayed at the edges.” from the report
End-of-life planning
minorA local authority commissioner had recommended making end-of-life plans more personal. Staff had started discussing these plans, but one person was not ready and the plans were to be reviewed.
“a recommendation had been made to ensure end of life plans were more person centred.” from the report
- 01How do you now record each person's progress towards their goals, and how is this checked?
- 02Has the frayed carpet on the top landing been replaced?
- 03How do you discuss and record each person's end-of-life wishes if they are not ready to talk about them?
- 04How are people's choices about activities, menus and daily routines reviewed?
- 05How do you make sure staffing levels remain enough when people have planned activities or need extra support?
This was an unannounced inspection of the overall service, covering all five CQC questions, and was the first inspection since the provider changed to a new legal entity. This explanation was written from the published report of 12 April 2018 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.
Every inspection of Acorn
Each visit the CQC has published, newest first, back to the day the home was registered.
- April 2018Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2017
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 13 March 2017.
Ratings and report dates from the Care Quality Commission, Open Government Licence v3.0. A home can also be visited without a new rating being published, so the timeline shows published inspections.
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39 live-in carers within about an hour of South Gloucestershire
These are self-employed carers on PrimeCarers, the introductory agency that runs this directory. Each has a profile with their own rates and reviews from families, and you choose who to talk to.
Most charge £1,020 to £1,280 a week. 32 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“She was very caring, kind and patient to all his needs, she built up a wondetful rapport with him, she was dedicated and was there for him through good times as well as through the tough times”
Every carer has had an enhanced DBS check in the last 18 months, ID and right-to-work checks and an online interview. Their skills and training are for you to check with them. Carers set their own rates, and who is free changes week to week.