CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Acorn House - Bideford
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, November 2018
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with no serious risks or concerns identified.
This was an announced comprehensive inspection on 31 October and 2 November 2018. One inspector spent time with everyone living at the home, observed care, spoke with relatives, staff and health professionals, and checked care files, staff records and service records.
The home supports up to six people with learning disabilities. Four people were living there during the inspection. Inspectors found safe care, suitable staffing, well-managed medicines, trained staff and good support from health professionals.
Care was described as caring, respectful and tailored to each person. People were supported to make choices, stay active, use the local community and keep relationships with family and friends. All five areas were rated Good.
The overall rating stayed Good, the same as at the previous inspection in March 2016. Inspectors found no evidence of serious risks or concerns.
Personalised care
Care plans reflected people's preferences, health needs, communication methods and personal histories. Staff used this information to provide consistent support.
“Care plans reflected people's health and social care needs and demonstrated that other health and social care professionals were involved.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
Staff knew people well and supported them with dignity, choice and independence. Inspectors saw relaxed and caring relationships.
“Staff treated people with dignity and respect when helping them with daily living tasks.” from the report
Meaningful activities
People took part in a wide range of activities and visits in the local community. Staff also supported family and social relationships.
“People engaged in a wide variety of activities and spent time in the local community going to specific places of interest.” from the report
Staff training and support
Staff had relevant training and received supervision and appraisals. They were able to describe how to meet people's changing needs.
“Staff received a range of training, which enabled them to feel confident in meeting people's needs and recognising changes in people's health.” from the report
Good oversight
The management team used audits, meetings and feedback to monitor the service and follow up actions.
“Audits were completed on a regular basis as part of monitoring the service provided.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What is the current position of the three people who were awaiting Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards assessments?
- 02How would you assess and review my relative's individual risks, including risks linked to behaviour, eating and drinking, or activities in the community?
- 03How would you support my relative's preferred communication methods and help them make day-to-day choices?
- 04What activities and community visits could my relative take part in, and how would you support contact with family and friends?
- 05How would you manage staff sickness or unexpected staffing shortages while ensuring my relative is supported by staff who know them?
This was an announced comprehensive inspection covering all five CQC questions, and the overall rating remained Good from the March 2016 inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 23 November 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 House - Bideford
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- November 2018Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 23 November 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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17 live-in carers within about an hour of Devon
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 £1,270 a week. 15 can care for a couple. 13 years' experience on average.
“She is such a warm and gentle person while being professional and competent at the same time.”
“She looked after my mum, who can be incredibly challenging, so well and so gently, and we always felt confident that my mum was getting the best care available.”
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.