Acorn House - Laindon

Updated 13 March 2021

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.

As part of CQC’s response to the coronavirus pandemic we are looking at the preparedness of care homes in relation to infection prevention and control. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection control and prevention measures the provider has in place.

This inspection took place on 16 February 2021 and was announced.

Updated 13 March 2021

About the service

Acorn House - Laindon is a care home providing personal care and accommodation for up to six people, with learning disabilities and autism. At the time of the inspection six people were living at the service.

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

People had a good quality of life at Acorn House. We received positive feedback from everyone we spoke to about the service. A relative told us, “My family member enjoys their life there. You can give them a big tick from us.”

The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.

The registered manager was a strong and committed leader who promoted good practice and a person-centred approach. There was an open culture at the service. People, families and staff felt able to speak out and have the confidence they would be listened to and action would be taken. The provider and senior staff monitored the quality of care and learnt from mistakes and concerns to make things better.

The registered manager developed practical and effective systems to help people remain safe. Staff worked well with people to manage risk within a homely environment. The provider was investing in the property to ensure it met people’s changing needs.

Staff were skilled and knowledgeable. The registered manager worked with the provider to ensure staff had access to good quality and relevant training and guidance. Staff worked effectively as a team, stepping in well in the registered manager’s absence to ensure people were safe.

People’s needs were outlined in detailed and personalised care plans which provided staff with the necessary guidance to support people. Staff worked well with health and social care professionals to promote people’s health and wellbeing. There were safe systems to support people to take their medicines safely.

Many of the staff had been at the service for some time and knew people well. The atmosphere was calm and respectful, and people spent time relaxing together around their busy schedules. Each person had a varied and flexible timetable, based on their needs and preferences. Staff used a variety of inclusive communication methods to ensure people had maximum access to information.

People 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.

The Secretary of State has asked the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to conduct a thematic review and to make recommendations about the use of restrictive interventions in settings that provide care for people with or who might have mental health problems, learning disabilities and/or autism. Thematic reviews look in-depth at specific issues concerning quality of care across the health and social care sectors. They expand our understanding of both good and poor practice and of what can support services to improve.

As part of this thematic review, we carried out a survey with the registered manager of Acorn House. We considered whether the service used any restrictive intervention practices (restraint, seclusion and segregation) when supporting people. The service used positive behaviour support principles to support people in the least restrictive way. No restrictive intervention practices were used.

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

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was Good (published 26 January 2017 )

Why we inspected:

This was a planned inspection to check that this service remained Good.

Follow up:

We will continue to monitor this service to ensure people receive care which meets their needs.