Acorns Health Care

On this page

• Overview
• Assessing needs
• Delivering evidence-based care and treatment
• How staff, teams and services work together
• Supporting people to live healthier lives
• Monitoring and improving outcomes
• Consent to care and treatment

Effective – this means we looked for evidence that people’s care, treatment and support achieved good outcomes and promoted a good quality of life, based on best available evidence.

At our last assessment we rated this key question good. At this assessment the rating has remained good. This meant people’s outcomes were consistently good, and people’s feedback confirmed this.

This service scored 75 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

The provider made sure people’s care and treatment was effective by assessing and reviewing their health, care, wellbeing and communication needs with them.

People participated in their assessments and reviews. People had communication care plans in place and documents to take to hospital with them when required. Not all hospital passports contained the information hospital staff would need to support people, however, these people would be supported by a member of their own staff team if they were admitted to hospital. The registered manager assured us they would update these plans to ensure they contained the relevant information.

Staff and those who knew people well were also involved in people’s assessments to ensure their views and opinions were captured. Staff told us people’s views were sought during daily support and in meetings with them.

The provider planned and delivered people’s care and treatment with them, including what was important and mattered to them. They did this in line with legislation and current evidence-based good practice and standards.

Comprehensive assessments captured people’s physical, emotional, and cognitive needs. These were reviewed regularly to reflect any changes in a person’s condition or preferences. Staff followed recognised best‑practice guidance, including approaches tailored for people living with epilepsy, diabetes, and other conditions. This ensured care plans were informed by up‑to‑date clinical knowledge, promoted wellbeing, and supported people to maintain independence.

Staff ensured people had enough to eat and drink and where there was a concern in this area, staff had completed a referral to the relevant health professional requesting additional support. This prevented people’s health deteriorating.

People were supported to maintain relationships with friends and family through physical visits and by making phone and video calls, this enhanced people’s social skills and maintained their wellbeing.

The provider worked well across teams and services to support people. They made sure people only needed to tell their story once by sharing their assessment of needs when people moved between different services.

The provider had processes in place to ensure care and support was coordinated in the best interests of people using the service which included collaboration with professionals and information sharing.

We sought feedback from professional’s who worked closely with the service. Professionals told us the provider kept them informed and sought their advice. 1 professional told us, “Acorns Health Care are proactive in making and managing appointments with a range of health professionals. They have a good awareness of services in the community, they accommodate appointments with Integrated Care Board (ICB), learning disability nurses, health professionals, special care dentist and podiatry. They are proactive in making referrals direct or working with adult services to refer as needed.”

People’s goals, dreams, and aspirations were documented in personalised plans and always communicated so a consistent approach was maintained between services. The service was mostly supporting people in line with the ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ principles.

The provider supported people to manage their health and wellbeing to maximise their independence, choice and control. Staff supported people to live healthier lives and where possible, reduce their future needs for care and support.

Care records captured the support people required with their health needs and what action staff should take when there was any deterioration to an individual’s health. This prevented people becoming unwell.

Relatives told us people were supported to lead healthy lives. A relative told us, “Staff and I work together around healthcare. I like to be involved in hospital appointments with their support. Staff sort out annual reviews, flu jabs and GP appointments. My relative may get distressed and shout with certain triggers. The staff team know how to manage this well. My relative is settled with a good staff team”

The provider routinely monitored people’s care and treatment to continuously improve it. They ensured that outcomes were positive and consistent, and that they met both clinical expectations and the expectations of people themselves.

Staff worked collaboratively to plan and deliver people’s care, reduce risks, and achieve best outcomes for people.

Relatives told us about the many activities their family members were supported to take part in each week.

Improvements had been made following our previous inspection. The provider told people about their rights around consent and respected these when delivering person-centred care and treatment.

Where necessary, mental capacity assessments (MCA) were completed in line with the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Best Interest (BI) meetings were held, following the MCA. These assessments also took into account where people’s capacity fluctuated, for example, during times of distress.

We reviewed evidence and observed staff gained people’s consent. Staff told us they always sought consent from people and explained what they needed to do to support the individual safely.