CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Acorn House - Acorn Watford Limited
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found detailed risk assessments, enough staff, safe recruitment, suitable safeguarding arrangements and accurate medicine records. They were also assured that infection prevention and control arrangements were in place.
- Effective?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this focused visit. Its previous rating was used in calculating the overall rating.
- Caring?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this focused visit. Its previous rating was used in calculating the overall rating.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this focused visit. Its previous rating was used in calculating the overall rating.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found a positive and inclusive culture, effective quality checks, detailed records and good communication with relatives.
What inspectors found, April 2022
Acorn House - Acorn Watford Limited was rated Good; a focused inspection found safe care and good leadership, with no evidence of harm from the concerns investigated.
The inspection was unannounced and took place on 17 March 2022. One inspector spoke with relatives and staff, observed support, and reviewed care records, medicine records, audits and training records.
The home was rated Good for Safe and Well-led. Inspectors found personalised care, enough staff, suitable risk plans, safe medicines practice and effective checks on the building and infection control.
The inspection followed concerns about people's care and a possible closed culture. Inspectors found no evidence that people were at risk of harm from these concerns. The overall rating stayed Good, as the Effective, Caring and Responsive ratings from the previous comprehensive inspection were carried forward.
Personalised support
Care was tailored to people's needs and preferences. Staff supported people in a way that promoted dignity, choice and independence.
“People received personalised care and support specific to their needs and preferences.” from the report
Enough staff
Relatives and inspectors found that staffing levels met people's needs safely. The provider also had arrangements to cover sickness and annual leave.
“There's absolutely enough staff, I've never had a concern.” from the report
Safe medicines
Staff were trained and knew people's medicines and preferences. The medicine records checked by inspectors were accurate, and audits followed up errors.
“The MARs we looked at were completed accurately.” from the report
Positive leadership
Inspectors found a positive atmosphere, good staff morale and quality monitoring systems that helped identify and address shortfalls.
“Quality assurance systems were effective, and we saw a number of audits, checks and monitoring systems” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How do you make sure staffing remains sufficient when someone is off sick or on leave?
- 02How are my relative's risk assessments and positive behaviour support plan reviewed when their needs or behaviour changes?
- 03How do you check medicine records and follow up any errors?
- 04How will you keep me informed about changes in my relative's health or wellbeing?
- 05What are the current ratings and recent evidence for Effective, Caring and Responsive, which were not inspected during this visit?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only; Effective, Caring and Responsive were not inspected and their previous ratings were carried forward. This explanation was written from the published report of 5 April 2022 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.
What inspectors found, November 2019
Acorn House - Acorn Watford Limited was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care across all five areas.
This was a planned comprehensive inspection over two days, on 9 and 10 October 2019. One inspector spoke with people living there, relatives and staff, and checked care, medicine, recruitment and management records.
The home supported ten adults with learning disabilities. Inspectors found people felt safe, staff were trained and there were enough staff. Medicines, infection control, risk assessments and safeguarding arrangements were also found to be suitable.
People received kind and respectful care. Their support was personalised, and they were helped to make choices, stay active, maintain relationships and use health services. Inspectors also found a positive culture and systems to check and improve quality.
All five areas were rated Good. The Safe rating improved from Requires Improvement at the previous inspection in February 2017. The other four ratings stayed Good.
People felt safe
People said they felt safe and staff knew how to recognise and report abuse. The home had systems to manage risks and keep people safe in the building and community.
“I feel safe living here and the staff make me feel safe.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors saw warm and friendly interactions. Staff supported people's dignity, privacy, independence and personal choices.
“We observed friendly and warm interactions between the staff and people.” from the report
Good communication support
The home adapted communication for people's needs, including through Makaton, picture cards, whiteboards and support with hearing aids.
“People's communication needs were identified, recorded and highlighted in their care plans if appropriate.” from the report
Learning from the previous inspection
The Safe rating improved from Requires Improvement to Good. Inspectors found the earlier concerns about risk assessments, fire records, signage and staffing had been addressed.
“At this inspection we found that the provider had taken action to address all the issues highlighted from the previous inspection.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How do you assess staffing levels for someone with my relative's particular needs, and what happens when staff are absent?
- 02How would you support my relative's communication needs, including any use of Makaton, picture cards or other aids?
- 03How are changes in health, including conditions such as diabetes, dementia or epilepsy, recorded and shared with staff?
- 04How would my relative be involved in choosing their activities, daily routine and care plan?
- 05How do you check that medicines are given safely and that staff remain competent?
This was a planned comprehensive inspection covering all five key questions, with the home and the care provided both looked at. This explanation was written from the published report of 16 November 2019 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 House - Acorn Watford Limited
4 rated inspections over 6 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- April 2022Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at Acorn House - Acorn Watford Limited →
- November 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at Acorn House - Acorn Watford Limited →
- March 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2016GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 27 October 2010.
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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46 live-in carers within about an hour of Brighton and Hove
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. 37 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Lottie showed incredible patience and empathy, adapting her routine to fit in with Mum's moods. Most importantly, Lottie's cheerful manner helped Mum to get some enjoyment out of life.”
“He was infinitely patient with them and got on very well with us to the extent that we now regard him as a personal friend.”
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.