Archived: Acorn

Updated 10 February 2015

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

We last inspected the service in June 2013 where we found the service to be compliant with the legislation. This inspection took place on 6 January and was unannounced. We returned on the 8 January 2015 to enable us to speak with more people and staff. The inspection was completed by one inspector.

We reviewed the information we held about the home. This included notifications, which are information about important events which the service is required to send us by law and previous inspection reports.

We contacted a health care professional and the South Gloucestershire safeguarding lead to obtain their views on the service and how it was being managed. Feedback was positive and showed that the service was working alongside other professionals in planning the care for people.

During the inspection we observed and spoke with three people in the lounge, looked at three people’s care records and those relating to the running of the home. This included staffing rotas, policies and procedures, two staff recruitment files and training information. We spoke with three members of staff and the registered manager.

Updated 10 February 2015

Acorn provides accommodation and personal care for 6 people. There were five young men living at the home when we inspected. This was an unannounced inspection, which meant the staff and provider did not know we would be visiting.

There was a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

People were receiving care that was effective and responsive to their changing needs. Care plans were in place that described how the person would like to be supported and these were kept under review. People were involved in making day to day decisions and decisions about their care. Other health and social care professionals were involved with regular meetings taking place with the person and the staff supporting them.

People led very active lifestyles based on their interests and aspirations. Some people were supported in these activities whilst others were fully independent. Staff were knowledgeable about the risks to the person and others and what measures were in place to ensure the person’s safety. People were involved in discussions about how they could keep safe. Staff clearly described what they would do if they felt a person was a risk of abuse and the importance of reporting to other agencies.

People were receiving medicines in a safe way. Staff had implemented some new recording to improve how medicines were checked and ensured some medicines were stored safely during the two day inspection.

People were supported by sufficient staff who had gone through a thorough recruitment process. Staff had received appropriate training to enable them to fulfil their role and support the people living in the home. Systems were in place to ensure effective communication, including team meetings and staff one to one meetings with the senior management team. Staff spoke positively about the team and how they supported people. People told us they liked the staff and the other people they lived with.

The staff were knowledgeable about the people they supported and caring in their approach. Staff commented positively about the management support.

Systems were in place for monitoring the service. This included seeking the views of the people and their relatives through regular meetings and annual surveys.