- Hospice service
Acorns Children's Hospice in Birmingham
Assessment report published 22 October 2025
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
We carried out this inspection in line with our current inspection priorities of returning to services where they had historical ratings. Acorns Children’s Hospice Birmingham were last inspected under the adult social care methodology in 2016 and were rated as outstanding overall. We also had concerns over the lack of a formal registered manager since the previous manager had deregistered in 2024.
The service provides a range of services which include day care, short breaks, support at home through an outreach service, in reach care into acute hospitals, support for children transitioning into adult services, end of life care and after death care. Whilst their service is registered to provide care for children 0 to 18 years, this was extended for children transitioning into adult services.
During our inspection we spoke with 17 staff which included the chief executive, matron, nurses, allied health professionals, domestic staff and nursing students.
We inspected all 33 quality statements across safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led questions and rated this service outstanding again.
We found:
The service had a good learning culture and people could raise concerns. Managers investigated incidents thoroughly. People were protected and kept safe. Staff understood and managed risks. The facilities and equipment met the needs of people, were clean and well-maintained and any risks mitigated. There were enough staff with the right skills, qualifications and experience. Managers made sure staffreceived training and regular appraisals to maintain high-quality care. Staff managed medicines well and involved people in planning any changes.
People were involved in assessments of their needs. Staff reviewed assessments taking account of people’s communication, personal and health needs. Care was always delivered in accordance with the latest evidence and good practice. There was a strong collaborative approach to the child or young person’s care which involved all relevant agencies to ensure the best outcomes and smooth transitions when moving services. They monitored people’s health to support healthy living. Staff made sure people understood their care and treatment to enable them to give informed consent.
People were always treated with kindness and compassion. Staff protected their privacy and dignity. They treated them as individuals and supported their preferences. People had choice in their care and were encouraged to maintain relationships with family and friends. Staff responded to people in a timely way. The service supported staff wellbeing.
People were always involved in decisions about their care. The service always provided information tailored to an individuals need. People knew how to give feedback and were confident the service took it seriously and acted on it. The service was easy to access and worked to eliminate discrimination. People received fair and equal care and treatment. The service worked to reduce health and care inequalities through training and feedback and had plans to take this work further. People and those close to them were involved in planning their care and understood options around choosing to withdraw or not receive care and were provided exceptional support by the staff involved in their care.
Leaders were inclusive, capable, visible, knowledgeable and supportive, helping staff develop in their roles. Staff felt supported to give feedback and were treated equally, free from bullying or harassment. Staff understood their roles and responsibilities. Managers worked with the local community to deliver the best possible care and were receptive to new ideas. Staff were passionate about driving forward continuous improvements within the field of hospice care for children and young people. Staff were given time and resources and actively encouraged to be involved in innovation and research.
People's experience of this service
During our onsite inspection we spoke with 2 relatives and observed the care and treatment of 4 patients. We also reviewed feedback collated by the service in relation to the care and treatment they provided. People were all positive about the experience within the service stating, staff treated them with warmth and kindness. The care delivered was extended to the whole family and not just the child who accessed the service which was evident in feedback as being extremely valuableand appreciated. Feedback identified how the staff made sure the child or young person’s needs were always at the centre of the care provided. Staff were reported as lovely and welcoming and were considered to be a great support.