CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Tree Vale Limited Acorn House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, January 2021
Tree Vale Limited Acorn House was inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection-control arrangements during a coronavirus outbreak.
This was an unannounced, targeted inspection on 07 January 2021. It focused only on infection prevention and control during a coronavirus outbreak.
The home was closed to visitors and new admissions during the outbreak. People were supported to keep in touch with loved ones by video and telephone. Staff had protective equipment, testing arrangements and infection-control procedures in place.
Inspectors found that infection risks were managed well. They were assured that people were admitted safely, protective equipment was used properly, and outbreaks could be prevented or managed effectively.
The home was inspected but not rated overall. The Safe question was also inspected but not rated, so this report does not provide a full judgement on the quality of care in all areas.
Managing the outbreak
The home had taken steps to protect people who had not tested positive and had alerted the relevant organisations. Agency staff were used to maintain safe staffing while staff who tested positive isolated at home.
“The support and risks associated with this were managed well.” from the report
Protective equipment and hygiene
Inspectors found sufficient protective equipment, regular checks and suitable disposal of clinical waste. They were assured that infection-control policies and practices were in place.
“We were assured that the provider was using PPE effectively and safely.” from the report
Keeping families in touch
Although visitors could not enter during the outbreak, people were supported to maintain contact with loved ones by video and telephone.
“People had been supported to maintain contact with their loved ones via video and telephone calls during the outbreak.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What infection-control and visiting arrangements are in place now?
- 02How are new admissions tested and supported during any isolation period?
- 03How often are staff and people living in the home tested now?
- 04What full ratings or assessments are available for care, staffing, activities and management, which this inspection did not cover?
- 05How would the home maintain safe staffing if several staff members were absent because of illness?
This was an unannounced targeted inspection of infection prevention and control during a coronavirus outbreak; it did not provide ratings for the other areas of care. This explanation was written from the published report of 30 January 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, February 2018
Rated Good; inspectors found kind, safe and person-centred care, with minor medicines recording and premises issues identified.
The unannounced inspection took place on 16 January 2018. Inspectors spoke with three people living at the home, staff and the managers. They looked at care records, medicines, staff files, training records, communal areas, some bedrooms and quality checks.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. People said staff were kind and caring. Inspectors saw warm relationships, enough staff, clear care plans, suitable food and activities, and prompt responses to changes in people's health.
There were two minor points to address. One person's pain relief balance did not match the medicines record, and some minor premises improvements were needed. The medicines issue was investigated and excess eye drops were removed for disposal. The home had improved from Requires Improvement at its previous inspection.
Kind relationships
Inspectors saw warm, natural conversations and compassionate support. People appeared relaxed and comfortable with staff.
“We observed people received kind and compassionate care and all of the staff we observed were warm and genuine in their interactions with people.” from the report
Clear personal care plans
Care records included people's needs, risks, preferences, backgrounds and what mattered to them. This helped staff provide personal support.
“People's care records contained clear and easy to understand information about people's needs and risks and how to support them effectively.” from the report
Prompt health support
Staff monitored people's health and acted quickly when needs changed. They involved health professionals and respected people's end of life wishes.
“People's physical health was monitored and responded to quickly if they became unwell.” from the report
Good activities and choices
People had a choice of meals and could receive alternatives. Activities included music, nail care, games, bingo and quizzes.
“There was a varied and person centred activities available for everyone who lived at the home.” from the report
Improved leadership
The home had improved from Requires Improvement at the previous inspection. Quality checks were in place across key areas of the service.
“At this inspection, the service has been rated good.” from the report
Medicines recording
needs fixingThe balance of one person's pain relief did not match the medicines administration record. The report suggested this was probably caused by an incorrect carry-forward figure, so ask how this is now prevented.
“We found that the balance of one person's pain relief medication did not match the amount administered on their medication administration record.” from the report
Minor premises work
minorInspectors identified a couple of minor improvements needed to the premises. An environmental check was being completed during the visit.
“There were a couple of minor improvements needed to the premises and on the day of our visit, the provider was in the process of completing an environmental check so that these improvements could be organised.” from the report
- 01What checks are now used to make sure medicines balances match the administration records?
- 02Were all the minor premises improvements identified during the inspection completed, and when?
- 03How are changes in people's mobility, nutrition and emotional health recorded and followed up?
- 04How are people's activities, interests and participation reviewed when their needs or preferences change?
- 05How will you make sure care is consistently person-centred for people whose needs are changing?
This was an inspection of the overall service, including all five CQC questions, the premises and care provided; inspectors reviewed a sample of three care records and selected medicines, staff and management records. This explanation was written from the published report of 28 February 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 Tree Vale Limited Acorn House
3 rated inspections over a year: the service has improved, from Inadequate to Good.
- January 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
Read what inspectors found at Tree Vale Limited Acorn House →
- February 2018Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at Tree Vale Limited Acorn House →
- May 2017Requires improvementup from InadequateSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- January 2017InadequateSafe: InadequateEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: InadequateWell-led: Inadequate
- January 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 19 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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40 live-in carers within about an hour of Wirral
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 £980 to £1,230 a week. 37 can care for a couple. 8 years' experience on average.
“It was clear that she genuinely cared and her warm approach really helped put our minds at ease.”
“He developed a close affinity with Terence, spending time talking with him before he retired to bed and looking after his needs during the night.”
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.