Acorn Complete Care Ltd

Updated 26 May 2023

The inspection

We carried out this performance review and assessment under Section 46 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act). We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements of the regulations associated with the Act and looked at the quality of the service to provide a rating.

Unlike our standard approach to assessing performance, we did not physically visit the office of the location. This is a new approach we have introduced to reviewing and assessing performance of some care at home providers. Instead of visiting the office location we use technology such as electronic file sharing and video or phone calls to engage with people using the service and staff.

Inspection team

This inspection was carried out by 1 inspector.

Service and Service Type

Acorn Complete Care Limited is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats. People's care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people's personal care and support.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was not a registered manager in post. However, we have received an application from the new manager to become the registered manager for the service.

Notice of inspection

The inspection was announced. The provider was given 15 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

Inspection activity started on 11 April 2023 ended on 22 May 2023

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service. The provider was not asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

During the inspection

We spoke with the manager. We reviewed a range of records. This included 1 person’s care plans, risk assessments, recruitment records, quality audits, daily records, and training records. We spoke with 1 relative and 2 care workers.

This performance review and assessment was carried out without a visit to the location’s office. We used technology such as video calls to enable us to engage with people using the service and staff, and electronic file sharing to enable us to review documentation.’ [Adapt as required dependent on methods used]. Confirm the dates of the inspection activity (refer to inspection using remote technology guidance).

Updated 26 May 2023

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people. We considered this guidance as there were people using the service who have a learning disability and or who are autistic.

About the service

Acorn Complete Care Limited provides support to adults with a range of needs including those with a learning disability. At the time of the inspection 1 person was receiving personal care. Th service was based in the areas of Haringey; where the provider was supporting people that lived in their own homes. Care Quality Commission only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also consider any wider social care provided.

People's experience of using this service and what we found

At the time of the inspection, the location did not care or support for anyone with a learning disability or an autistic person. However, we assessed the care provision under Right Support, Right Care, Right Culture, as it is registered as a specialist service for this population group.

Right Support:

There were suitable staffing levels to meet the person’s needs and the provider carried out employment checks to ensure that staff were recruited safely. The service took measures to help prevent the spread of infections. Medicines were managed in a safe way. People who used the service were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

Right Care:

A relative told us that their loved ones were treated with kindness and their privacy was respected by staff. They also told us that they felt the service supported people to express their views and were involved in making decisions about their support with help from their families. The person’s support plan was detailed and person-centred.

Right Culture:

A relative spoke positively about the management team and staff. The service carried out a range of audits to ensure a good quality service was provided. Staff understood people's needs well. This enabled the person to receive compassionate and empowering care that was tailored to their individual support needs. Staff knew and understood the person well.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us 15 December 2021, and this is their first inspection.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect

This was an ‘inspection using remote technology’. This means we did not visit the office location and instead used technology such as electronic file sharing to gather information, and video and phone calls to engage with people using the service as part of this performance review and assessment.