Inspection on 05/12/08 for The Acorns

This inspection was carried out on 5th December 2008.

CSCI found this care home to be providing an Good service.

The inspector made no statutory requirements on the home as a result of this inspection and there were no outstanding actions from the previous inspection report.

Other inspections for this house

The Acorns 12/01/07

The Acorns 21/12/05

The Acorns 21/10/05

The Acorns 02/02/05

The Acorns 24/11/04

Similar services:

Larch Avenue

Alderson Road 12

Cranworth Close Registered Care Home

The Cornerstone

John Street Nursing Home

Pennine Camphill

Muston Road (70)

Grayling

Extracts from inspection reports are licensed from CQC, this page was updated on 19/06/2009.

Inspecting for better lives Key inspection report Care homes for adults (18-65 years) Name: Address: The Acorns 77 Clifton Avenue Stanley Wakefield West Yorks WF3 4HB     The quality rating for this care home is:   two star good service A quality rating is our assessment of how well a care home, agency or scheme is meeting the needs of the people who use it. We give a quality rating following a full assessment of the service. We call this a ‘key’ inspection. Lead inspector: Tony Railton     Date: 0 5 1 2 2 0 0 8 This is a report of an inspection where we looked at how well this care home is meeting the needs of people who use it. There is a summary of what we think this service does well, what they have improved on and, where it applies, what they need to do better. We use the national minimum standards to describe the outcomes that people should experience. National minimum standards are written by the Department of Health for each type of care service. After the summary there is more detail about our findings. The following table explains what you will see under each outcome area. Outcome area (for example Choice of home) These are the outcomes that people staying in care homes should experience. that people have said are important to them: They reflect the things This box tells you the outcomes that we will always inspect against when we do a key inspection. This box tells you any additional outcomes that we may inspect against when we do a key inspection. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: This box tells you our opinion of what we have looked at in this outcome area. We will say whether it is excellent, good, adequate or poor. Evidence: This box describes the information we used to come to our judgement. Copies of the National Minimum Standards – Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) can be found at www.dh.gov.uk or bought from The Stationery Office (TSO) PO Box 29, St Crispins, Duke Street, Norwich, NR3 1GN. Tel: 0870 600 5522. Online ordering from the Stationery Office is also available: www.tso.co.uk/bookshop The Commission for Social Care Inspection aims to: • • • • Put the people who use social care first Improve services and stamp out bad practice Be an expert voice on social care Practise what we preach in our own organisation Our duty to regulate social care services is set out in the Care Standards Act 2000. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 2 of 22 Reader Information Document Purpose Author Audience Further copies from Copyright Inspection report CSCI General public 0870 240 7535 (telephone order line) Copyright © (2009) Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI). This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part, free of charge, in any format or medium provided that it is not used for commercial gain. This consent is subject to the material being reproduced accurately and on proviso that it is not used in a derogatory manner or misleading context. The material should be acknowledged as CSCI copyright, with the title and date of publication of the document specified. www.cqc.org.uk Internet address Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 3 of 22 Information about the care home Name of care home: Address: The Acorns 77 Clifton Avenue Stanley Wakefield West Yorks WF3 4HB 01924824094 Telephone number: Fax number: Email address: Provider web address: Name of registered provider(s): gaynor@alternativecarelimited.co.uk Mrs Gaynor J Hodgson Name of registered manager (if applicable) Mrs Gaynor J Hodgson Type of registration: Number of places registered: Conditions of registration: Category(ies) : Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 learning disability Additional conditions: The maximum number of service users who can be accommodated is: 5 The registered person may provide the following category of service only: Care Home only - Code PC To service users of the following gender: Either Whose primary care needs on admissionto the home are within the following categories: Learning Disability - Code LD Date of last inspection Brief description of the care home The Acorns continues to provide personal care and accommodation for two people who have a learning disability and who may also have mental health problems. This large detached house is situated in a residential area of Stanley on the outskirts of Wakefield. The home is decorated and maintained to a good standard and all accommodation offered is single. There is parking to the front of the home and a large walled garden to the rear. Access to the garden is through a large conservatory to the rear of the home. There is a domestic type kitchen/dining room and a large television Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 4 of 22 care home 5 Over 65 0 5 Brief description of the care home lounge to the front. The care provided by the home is underpinned by ordinary living principles and there is an expectation that service users do as much for themselves as possible. Service users are also encouraged and assisted to take advantage of ordinary community based health and leisure services. There are some local shops nearby and a public house. The home is close to a main bus route, however, the home provides transport for service users. The M62 motorway is nearby with link roads to the M1/A1. On the 12th January the providers gave the fees for living in the home as #340.00 per week. Extra was charged for hairdressing (from #5.00) and for holidays (charge varies depending on choice of holiday). Information regarding the fees and services provided can be obtained from the home or by e-mailing office@alternativecarelimited.co.uk Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 5 of 22 Summary This is an overview of what we found during the inspection. The quality rating for this care home is: Our judgement for each outcome: two star good service Choice of home Individual needs and choices Lifestyle Personal and healthcare support Concerns, complaints and protection Environment Staffing Conduct and management of the home peterchart Poor Adequate Good Excellent How we did our inspection: This unannounced visit to the home com firmed the Two Star rating of the serviced which means people living in the home experience good quality outcomes. The visit commenced at 15:30 and ended at 16:45, but during the visit there was the opportunity to meet everyone living in the home. We also had the opportunity to speak to the manager, and two support workers. We looked at a sample of peoples records including assessments care plans, reviews and daily records. We also looked at a sample of staff records which included references, police checks, references and training records. We looked at the way medicines and finances are dealt with and undertook a short tour of the premises. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 6 of 22 Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 7 of 22 What the care home does well: What has improved since the last inspection? What they could do better: If you want to know what action the person responsible for this care home is taking following this report, you can contact them using the details set out on page 4. The report of this inspection is available from our website www.cqc.org.uk. You can get printed copies from enquiries@cqc.org.uk or by telephoning our order line –0870 240 7535. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 8 of 22 Details of our findings Contents Choice of home (standards 1 - 5) Individual needs and choices (standards 6-10) Lifestyle (standards 11 - 17) Personal and healthcare support (standards 18 - 21) Concerns, complaints and protection (standards 22 - 23) Environment (standards 24 - 30) Staffing (standards 31 - 36) Conduct and management of the home (standards 37 - 43) Outstanding statutory requirements Requirements and recommendations from this inspection Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 9 of 22 Choice of home These are the outcomes that people staying in care homes should experience. They reflect the things that people have said are important to them: People are confident that the care home can support them. This is because there is an accurate assessment of their needs that they, or people close to them, have been involved in. This tells the home all about them, what they hope for and want to achieve, and the support they need. People can decide whether the care home can meet their support and accommodation needs. This is because they, and people close to them, can visit the home and get full, clear, accurate and up to date information. If they decide to stay in the home they know about their rights and responsibilities because there is an easy to understand contract or statement of terms and conditions between the person and the care home that includes how much they will pay and what the home provides for the money. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: People using this service experience good quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service. To make sure peoples support and care needs are met these are assessed before coming to live in the home. Evidence: To make sure the service can meet peoples care and support needs the assessments show these are assessed before coming to live in the home. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 10 of 22 Individual needs and choices These are the outcomes that people staying in care homes should experience. They reflect the things that people have said are important to them: People’s needs and goals are met. The home has a plan of care that the person, or someone close to them, has been involved in making. People are able to make decisions about their life, including their finances, with support if they need it. This is because the staff promote their rights and choices. People are supported to take risks to enable them to stay independent. This is because the staff have appropriate information on which to base decisions. People are asked about, and are involved in, all aspects of life in the home. This is because the manager and staff offer them opportunities to participate in the day to day running of the home and enable them to influence key decisions. People are confident that the home handles information about them appropriately. This is because the home has clear policies and procedures that staff follow. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: People using this service experience good quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service. People know their individual care and support needs are reflected in their Person Centered Plans and they have a say in what happens to them and what they do. Evidence: Records show people are fully involved in developing their care plans and have a say in what they do and what happens to them. People were observed throughout the visit being treated with dignity and having their wishes respected. The risk assessments show people are supported to take risks as part of living and ordinary lifestyle. One person says living in the home is great they went on to say its really good and they can do what they want, and staff are fantastic. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 11 of 22 Lifestyle These are the outcomes that people staying in care homes should experience. They reflect the things that people have said are important to them: Each person is treated as an individual and the care home is responsive to his or her race, culture, religion, age, disability, gender and sexual orientation. They can take part in activities that are appropriate to their age and culture and are part of their local community. The care home supports people to follow personal interests and activities. People are able to keep in touch with family, friends and representatives and the home supports them to have appropriate personal, family and sexual relationships. People are as independent as they can be, lead their chosen lifestyle and have the opportunity to make the most of their abilities. Their dignity and rights are respected in their daily life. People have healthy, well-presented meals and snacks, at a time and place to suit them. People have opportunities to develop their social, emotional, communication and independent living skills. This is because the staff support their personal development. People choose and participate in suitable leisure activities. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: People using this service experience good quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service. People have opportunities for personal development and have a choice of a varied and balance menu. Evidence: Discussion with people living in the home found they are very happy and enjoy doing ordinary things. One person says the meals are great and that they have made spaghetti bolognas before but can only cook when someone is there to supervise them. The records show people have opportunities for personal development as they attend day opportunities run by the local authority and by the service providers. Some attend college and others spend time at home learning life skills. Throughout the visit people were observed being treated with dignity and having their wishes respected. The daily records and record of activities show people are supported to live as ordinary a lifestyle as possible. One person says they like to have a take a Way now and Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 12 of 22 Evidence: again. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 13 of 22 Personal and healthcare support These are the outcomes that people staying in care homes should experience. They reflect the things that people have said are important to them: People receive personal support from staff in the way they prefer and want. Their physical and emotional health needs are met because the home has procedures in place that staff follow. If people take medicine, they manage it themselves if they can. If they cannot manage their medicine, the care home supports them with it in a safe way. If people are approaching the end of their life, the care home will respect their choices and help them to feel comfortable and secure. They, and people close to them, are reassured that their death will be handled with sensitivity, dignity and respect, and take account of their spiritual and cultural wishes. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: People using this service experience good quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service. Peoples health care needs are met by ordinary community based health care services and they are protected by the way medicines are dealt with. Evidence: The person centered plans and reviews and medical records show people are supported and encouraged to use ordinary community health care services. However, the records show some people also have the support of the Community Learning Disability Team and hospital based Consultants. People are protected by the way medicines are dealt with as these were checked and found to be safe. Staff training records also show they have training in giving medicines safely. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 14 of 22 Concerns, complaints and protection These are the outcomes that people staying in care homes should experience. They reflect the things that people have said are important to them: If people have concerns with their care, they or people close to them, know how to complain. Their concern is looked into and action taken to put things right. The care home safeguards people from abuse, neglect and self-harm and takes action to follow up any allegations. There are no additional outcomes. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: People using this service experience good quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service. People know that what they say will be taken seriously and acted upon and they are protected from any kind of abuse. Evidence: Discussion with people living in the home found they know that what they say will be listened to and acted upon. Everyone has a copy of an easy read complaints policy and procedure telling them how to make a complaint if they need to. People spoken to say they have never had to make a complaint. The service history and record of complaints confirmed this. People are protected from any kind of abuse as the staff training records show they have Safeguarding training. Support workers confirmed this. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 15 of 22 Environment These are the outcomes that people staying in care homes should experience. They reflect the things that people have said are important to them: People stay in a safe and well-maintained home that is homely, clean, comfortable, pleasant and hygienic. People stay in a home that has enough space and facilities for them to lead the life they choose and to meet their needs. The home makes sure they have the right specialist equipment that encourages and promotes their independence. Their room feels like their own, it is comfortable and they feel safe when they use it. People have enough privacy when using toilets and bathrooms. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: People using this service experience excellent quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service. People live in a home that is comfortable , homely and safe. Evidence: A tour of the premises found people live in a well decorated and well maintained home that is comfortable and safe. People say they enjoy living in the home. One says its great another the homes fantastic, the best ever. One person with limited communication skills was relaxing in their bedroom watching television. They were smiling and appeared to be happy and relaxed. People live in a safe environment as the records show regular health and safety and fire checks are completed. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 16 of 22 Staffing These are the outcomes that people staying in care homes should experience. They reflect the things that people have said are important to them: People have safe and appropriate support as there are enough competent, qualified staff on duty at all times. They have confidence in the staff at the home because checks have been done to make sure that they are suitable. People’s needs are met and they are supported because staff get the right training, supervision and support they need from their managers. People are supported by an effective staff team who understand and do what is expected of them. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: People using this service experience good quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service. Peoples care and support needs are met by the numbers and skill mix of support workers, and they are protected by the way staff are selected and recruited. Evidence: A sample of support workers records, staff rotas and discussion with the manager found peoples care and support needs are met by the numbers and skill mix of support workers. A sample of staff records also show people are protected by the way staff are recruited and selected as they show references, police and POVA (Protection of Vulnerable Adults List) checks are taken up before they are employed. People living in the home say staff are great. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 17 of 22 Conduct and management of the home These are the outcomes that people staying in care homes should experience. They reflect the things that people have said are important to them: People have confidence in the care home because it is run and managed appropriately. People’s opinions are central to how the home develops and reviews their practice, as the home has appropriate ways of making sure they continue to get things right. The environment is safe for people and staff because health and safety practices are carried out. People get the right support from the care home because the manager runs it appropriately, with an open approach that makes them feel valued and respected. They are safeguarded because the home follows clear financial and accounting procedures, keeps records appropriately and makes sure staff understand the way things should be done. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: People using this service experience good quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service. People live in a well managed home where they have a say in what happens and where their health , safety and welfare is promoted and protected. Evidence: The tone of the home is set by the people living there. People were observed being treated with dignity and having their wishes respected. The Person Centered Plans and daily records and reviews show people have a say in what they do and what happens to them. The Quality Assurance surveys in their records show their opinion on the quality of care and support is sought. The minutes of the house meetings also show people have the opportunity to comment on the running of the home. The support workers say they also have the opportunity to comment on the running of the home. The minutes of staff meetings and supervision records in their files confirmed this. The health and safety and fire maintenance checks show people live in a well maintained and safe environment. The staff training records show peoples health , safety and welfare is promoted and protected. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 18 of 22 Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 19 of 22 Are there any outstanding requirements from the last inspection? Yes £ No R Outstanding statutory requirements These are requirements that were set at the previous inspection, but have still not been met. They say what the registered person had to do to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, Care Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. No. Standard Regulation Requirement Timescale for action Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 20 of 22 Requirements and recommendations from this inspection: Immediate requirements: These are immediate requirements that were set on the day we visited this care home. The registered person had to meet these within 48 hours. No. Standard Regulation Requirement Timescale for action Statutory requirements These requirements set out what the registered person must do to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, Care Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. The registered person(s) must do this within the timescales we have set. No. Standard Regulation Requirement Timescale for action Recommendations These recommendations are taken from the best practice described in the National Minimum Standards and the registered person(s) should consider them as a way of improving their service. No. Refer to Standard Good Practice Recommendations Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 21 of 22 Helpline: Telephone: 03000 616161 or Textphone: or Email: enquiries@cqc.org.uk Web: www.cqc.org.uk We want people to be able to access this information. If you would like a summary in a different format or language please contact our helpline or go to our website. Copyright © (2009) Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI). This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part, free of charge, in any format or medium provided that it is not used for commercial gain. This consent is subject to the material being reproduced accurately and on proviso that it is not used in a derogatory manner or misleading context. The material should be acknowledged as CSCI copyright, with the title and date of publication of the document specified. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 22 of 22 - Please note that this information is included on www.bestcarehome.co.uk under license from the regulator. Re-publishing this information is in breach of the terms of use of that website. Discrete codes and changes have been inserted throughout the textual data shown on the site that will provide incontrovertable proof of copying in the event this information is re-published on other websites. The policy of www.bestcarehome.co.uk is to use all legal avenues to pursue such offenders, including recovery of costs. You have been warned!