CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Acorn Manor
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Staff knew people well and understood how to protect them from abuse. Risk assessments, medicines systems, recruitment checks and infection control arrangements were found to be effective.
- Effective?
- Good
- This question was not inspected or separately rated in this report.
- Caring?
- Good
- This question was not separately rated in this report, although inspectors found staff relationships were caring and supportive.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This question was not inspected or separately rated in this report.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found effective governance, approachable leadership, regular contact with families and a culture focused on learning and improvement.
What inspectors found, April 2023
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and person-centred care, with effective leadership and no breaches reported.
The inspection visit took place on 30 March 2023. One inspector spoke with people and staff, observed care, reviewed care and staff records, and gathered feedback from relatives and other professionals.
The home supports up to 9 adults with learning disabilities. There were 7 people living there during the inspection. Inspectors rated the home Good overall, with Safe and Well-led both rated Good.
Inspectors found that staff knew people well, managed risks and medicines safely, followed infection control measures, and supported people to make choices. Care was described as kind and compassionate, and the home had systems to monitor quality and make improvements.
The previous rating was also Good, published in April 2018. The CQC will continue to monitor information about the home and decide when to inspect again.
Staff understand people
Staff knew people well and could recognise when someone was worried, unhappy or unwell. Support plans gave clear guidance about individual risks and needs.
“Staff knew people very well and could recognise if a person was worried or unhappy.” from the report
Good safety systems
The home had comprehensive risk assessments and effective systems for medicines, recruitment, equipment checks and infection prevention.
“There were comprehensive risk assessments in place covering all aspects of the service and support provided.” from the report
Kind and person-centred care
Inspectors found that staff were kind and compassionate and promoted people's individuality, rights, independence and meaningful activities.
“Staff provided care that was kind and compassionate.” from the report
Strong leadership
The registered manager was visible and approachable. Quality checks were used to identify improvements, and staff felt supported and valued.
“Systems were in place to monitor the quality and safety of the service.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How will you assess and review my relative's individual risks and communication needs?
- 02How do you support residents to make choices and take part in activities they want to do?
- 03How often are medicines reviewed, and how will you explain them to my relative in a way they understand?
- 04How will you keep our family informed about changes in my relative's needs or care?
- 05What infection prevention arrangements are currently in place for visitors and possible outbreaks?
This was a focused inspection covering Safe and Well-led, including infection prevention and control; the other key-question ratings were not given in this report. This explanation was written from the published report of 15 April 2023 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 Manor is rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and highly personalised care, with no serious risks or concerns identified.
This was an unannounced inspection over 20 and 22 February 2018. One inspector spoke with people, staff, relatives and a health professional. They also observed care and checked care files, staff records, training records and service documents.
The home was found to provide safe and effective care. Medicines were managed safely. Staff understood people's complex needs, had suitable training and followed legal processes when people could not make some decisions for themselves.
Inspectors found caring relationships and personalised support. People were helped to take part in activities, use local services and maintain family relationships. The home was well run, with checks used to monitor quality and make improvements.
All five areas were rated Good: safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led. This was the same overall rating as at the previous inspection, so the report was published in a shorter format.
Personalised support
Care was tailored to people's complex needs, preferences and communication styles. Staff used tools such as pictures, symbols and social stories to help people understand and make choices.
“Acorn Manor offered people a service which was highly personalised and took into account people's complex needs due to their autism.” from the report
Meaningful activities
People were supported to take part in a wide range of activities and spend time in the local community. This included swimming, forest school, meals out, holidays and a regular disco.
“Activities formed an extremely important part of people's lives.” from the report
Kind relationships
Inspectors saw relaxed, friendly and caring interactions. Staff supported people's dignity, privacy, independence and communication.
“Staff relationships with people were caring and supportive.” from the report
Safe care
Risks were reviewed and managed in the least restrictive way possible. Medicines were stored, administered and checked safely, and staff knew how to report safeguarding concerns.
“The service provided safe care to people. Measures to manage risk were as least restrictive as possible to protect people's freedom.” from the report
Staff skills
Staff received induction, training, supervision and appraisals. Inspectors found they understood people's health, communication and behaviour support needs.
“People received effective care and support from staff who were well trained and competent.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you support my relative's specific communication needs, including their preferred words, objects, pictures or symbols?
- 02How would you assess and manage my relative's risks while keeping restrictions as low as possible?
- 03What activities and community opportunities would be available for my relative, and how would you adapt them if they became anxious?
- 04How would you support my relative with medicines, including any medicines prescribed as needed?
- 05How would my relative and our family be involved in care planning, reviews, complaints and decisions made under the Mental Capacity Act?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection of all five quality areas, and the overall rating remained Good from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 13 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 Manor
3 rated inspections over 7 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- April 2023Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 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.