What the CQC found at Acorn House Residential Home Limited

People and relatives described staff as kind and caring. Inspectors saw staff protecting privacy and supporting people to make choices.

“People and their relatives told us that staff were kind and caring.” from the report

Inspectors found there were enough staff to meet people's needs promptly. People and relatives also said staff were available when needed.

“There were sufficient numbers of staff on duty to meet people's needs in a timely manner.” from the report

The home had improved its use of the Mental Capacity Act. Staff sought consent and supported people to make decisions wherever possible.

“People were encouraged to make all decisions for themselves and were provided with information to enable this in a format that met their needs.” from the report

People could take part in daily activities, while their choice not to join in was respected. Staff used different communication methods for people who needed them.

“A range of activities were delivered to people on a daily basis.” from the report

Accidents and incidents were recorded, investigated and used to identify actions for staff.

“When things went wrong, the manager responded appropriately and used this as a learning opportunity and learning was disseminated to staff during staff meetings.” from the report

Some people did not have the risk assessments or clear guidance staff needed for mobility, nutrition, choking or behaviour. This increased the risk of inconsistent or unsafe support.

“Risks to people were not always assessed and identified or updated when their needs changed.” from the report

Care plans did not always reflect changes in people's needs or include all the information staff needed. The manager sent updated documents after the inspection, but CQC planned to check them again.

“Care plans did not always include all elements of people's needs and some areas were not completed or accurate.” from the report

The home's audits failed to identify the problems inspectors found with medicines, risks, care plans, behaviour charts and staff records.

“The governance of the service was not effective or robust and this was evidenced by the nature of the breaches of the regulations we identified at this inspection.” from the report

The four staff files checked did not always contain complete employment or education histories, and gaps had not always been explained. Other checks, including references and criminal record checks, had been completed.

“Recruitment procedures had not been fully completed to ensure that staff were of good character or have the skills and experience necessary to provide care.” from the report