Archived: Acorn Lodge - Surbiton

Updated 12 August 2022

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

This inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

Acorn Lodge - Surbiton is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Acorn Lodge - Surbiton is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with one person that uses the service. We spoke with the registered manager and three staff members. We reviewed two people’s care records, three staff files and reviewed a range of documents in relation to the management of the service.

Following the inspection we received feedback from two relatives and reviewed electronically submitted evidence. We also received feedback from a professional that worked with the service.

Updated 12 August 2022

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.

About the service

Acorn Lodge - Surbiton is a residential care home providing personal care for those with mental health issues, learning disabilities or autism. The service can support up to ten people.

Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC 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. At the time of our inspection three people were receiving personal care.

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

The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of right support, right care, right culture.

Right Support

People were kept safe from avoidable harm because staff knew them well and understood how to protect them from abuse. The service worked well with other agencies to do so. People lived safely and free from unwarranted restrictions because the service assessed, monitored and managed safety well.

Staff followed effective processes to assess and provide the support people needed to take their medicines safely. This included where there were difficulties in communicating, when medicines were given covertly, and when assessing risks of people taking medicines themselves.

Staff could describe how their training and personal development related to the people they supported. For people that the service assessed as lacking mental capacity for certain decisions, staff clearly recorded assessments and any best interest decisions. People received support to eat and drink enough to maintain a balanced diet.

Right Care

People personalised their rooms and were included in decisions relating to the interior decoration and design of their home. Staff were patient and used appropriate styles of interaction with people.

Staff supported people to express their views using their preferred method of communication. Staff had the opportunity to try new experiences, develop new skills and gain independence. Preferences were identified and appropriate staff were available to support people. People, and those important to them, could raise concerns and complaints easily and staff supported them to do so.

Right culture

Management were visible in the service, approachable and took a genuine interest in what people, staff, family, advocates and other professionals had to say. The registered manager had the skills, knowledge and experience to perform their role and a clear understanding of people’s needs/ oversight of the services they managed. The provider engaged in local forums to work with other organisations to improve care and support for people using the service/ the wider system. Staff were committed to reviewing people’s care and support on an ongoing basis as people’s needs and wishes changed over time.

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.

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 29 November 2018.)

Why we inspected

We undertook this inspection to assess that the service is applying the principles of Right support right care right culture.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.