CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Acorn Lodge Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that infection risks were being managed, including visiting, social distancing, admissions, PPE, testing, cleaning and outbreak management.
- Effective?
- Good
- This was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- This was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
What inspectors found, March 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection-control arrangements during a targeted COVID-19 inspection.
The inspection took place on 9 March 2021 and was announced. It was a targeted inspection focused on infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic.
Inspectors found the home was clean and hygienic. Cleaning schedules covered high-touch areas. Staff had access to personal protective equipment, handwashing and sanitising facilities, and people and staff took part in regular COVID-19 testing.
Inspectors were assured that the home was managing visitors, shielding, social distancing, admissions, protective equipment, testing, hygiene and possible outbreaks appropriately. The home was inspected but not rated, so this report does not give an overall quality rating.
Clean premises
The home had cleaning schedules, including for high-touch areas, and inspectors found the premises clean and hygienic.
“The premises were clean and hygienic. Cleaning schedules were in place, including for high touch points.” from the report
Protective equipment and hand hygiene
Staff had access to PPE and suitable facilities for handwashing and sanitising. Guidance was also displayed in pictures.
“Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and appropriate handwashing and sanitising facilities were available to staff.” from the report
Testing and monitoring
People living in the home and staff took part in regular COVID-19 testing, and people's temperatures were checked daily.
“The staff and residents were taking part in regular COVID-19 testing and people's temperatures were taken daily.” from the report
Family contact
The home supported people to keep in touch with relatives using telephone calls and electronic devices.
“People were supported to stay in touch with their families through telephone calls and electronic devices.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What infection-control arrangements are in place now, and how have they changed since the inspection on 9 March 2021?
- 02Are relatives now able to visit in the planned conservatory, and what visiting arrangements apply?
- 03How often are people living in the home and staff tested for infections now?
- 04How are PPE use, hand hygiene and cleaning of high-touch areas checked?
- 05How would the home manage an infection outbreak, and how would families be kept informed?
This was an announced, targeted inspection of infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic; the report did not rate the other four quality areas. This explanation was written from the published report of 19 March 2021 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, April 2018
Acorn Lodge Care Home was rated Good; inspectors found major improvements after an earlier Inadequate rating and special measures.
This was an unannounced inspection of the whole home. Inspectors visited on 19 and 23 February 2018, spoke with managers, care staff, people living there and relatives, and checked care records, staff files, complaints and audits.
The home had made significant improvements since the previous inspection in June 2017. Inspectors found safer staffing, better risk assessments, improved fire safety, safer medicines systems, stronger recruitment checks and better monitoring of the service.
People were supported by trained staff who were described as kind and respectful. Care plans were more personalised, people had access to activities and healthcare, and relatives were involved in care planning. All five areas inspected were rated Good.
The earlier Inadequate rating and special measures had ended because the inspectors found that the previous breaches had been addressed. A Good rating means the inspectors found the service met the relevant standards at this inspection.
Safer care planning
Risk assessments and care plans had been reviewed and made more specific to each person's needs. Staff understood how to support people safely and promote independence.
“There were comprehensive risk assessments now in place in areas including skin integrity, eating and drinking, falls, moving and handling, swimming, accessing the kitchen, property destruction, excessive eating and verbal threats and abuse.” from the report
Staffing and training
Inspectors found enough staff and said staff had the training and supervision needed to support people.
“At this inspection, we found people were supported by trained and competent staff.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff knew people well, communicated patiently and treated them with dignity. People appeared comfortable in their company.
“We spent time observing interactions between people and staff and found staff were caring and friendly in their approach.” from the report
Meaningful activities
People were supported to take part in activities at the home and in the community, including education, swimming, bowling and cooking.
“People accessed the community on a regular basis to attend for example, college courses, pottery, and cooking classes.” from the report
Improved management
The provider introduced wider audits and used advice from external consultants and the local authority to improve the service.
“During this inspection, we found improvements had been made.” from the report
Communication plan detail
minorOne person's care plan described some use of Makaton but did not fully explain what the person could communicate with it. Families should check that communication guidance is detailed enough for every person's needs.
“The care plan did give some detail of how the person used this but the care plan would benefit from more detail relating to exactly what they were able to use Makaton for.” from the report
- 01How do you check that the improved staffing levels continue to match each person's needs?
- 02How often are risk assessments and care plans reviewed, and how are families involved?
- 03How do you record and support each person's preferred way of communicating, including signs or objects of reference?
- 04How do you keep fire safety checks, evacuation plans and fire warden arrangements up to date?
- 05What regular audits are carried out now, and how are problems followed up?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five key questions and both the care provided and the premises. This explanation was written from the published report of 17 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 Lodge Care Home
3 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- March 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- April 2018Goodup from InadequateSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2017Inadequatedown from GoodSafe: InadequateEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: InadequateWell-led: Inadequate
- September 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 21 January 2011.
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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