Acorn House - Bideford

Updated 23 November 2018

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked 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.

This announced comprehensive inspection took place on 31 October and 2 November 2018. The provider was given short notice because we needed to be sure that someone would be in.

The inspection team consisted of one adult social care inspector.

Prior to the inspection we reviewed the Provider Information Return (PIR) and previous inspection reports. The PIR is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We also reviewed the information we held about the service and notifications we had received. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law.

We spent time with everyone living at Acorn House. We spoke with two relatives and eight members of staff, which included the registered and home managers. We spent time observing the interactions between them and staff.

People living at the service were unable to communicate their experience of living at the home in detail with us as they were living with a learning disability. We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a specific way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people, who could not comment directly on their experience.

We reviewed two people’s care files, three staff files, staff training records and a selection of policies, procedures and records relating to the management of the service. After our visit we sought feedback from health and social care professionals to obtain their views of the service provided to people. We received feedback from two professionals.

Updated 23 November 2018

Acorn House is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. Acorn House accommodates six people living with a learning disability in one adapted building. At the time of our inspection there were four people living at the service.

The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the ‘Registering the Right Support’ and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

This announced comprehensive inspection took place on 31 October and 2 November 2018. The provider was given short notice because we needed to be sure that someone would be in.

At our last inspection in March 2016 we rated the service good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

Why the service is rated good.

The service provided safe care to people. A relative commented: “(Person) definitely feels safe and secure.” People’s rights were protected because the service followed the appropriate legal processes. Medicines were safely managed on people’s behalf.

People are supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff support them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service support this practice.

Care files were personalised to reflect people’s personal preferences. People were supported to maintain a balanced diet. Health and social care professionals were regularly involved in people’s care to ensure they received the care and treatment which was right for them.

Staff relationships with people were caring and supportive. Relatives commented: “We continue to be delighted by the standard of care (person) receives” and “The staff really ‘get him’. (Person) is really settled and his adulthood is improving. Staff have worked really hard with (person) and he is doing more now.” Staff treated people with dignity and respect when helping them with daily living tasks. The service ensured people led meaningful and fulfilled lives.

There were effective staff recruitment and selection processes in place. People received effective care and support from staff who were well trained and competent.

Staff spoke positively about communication and how the registered and home managers worked well with them and encouraged their professional development.

A number of methods were used to assess the quality and safety of the service people received and continuous improvements were made in response to the findings.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.