Latest Inspection
This is the latest available inspection report for this service, carried out on 24th August 2009. it is an annual review prepared by CQC after examining previous reports and information from the provider. At the time of this report, CQC judged the service to be Good.
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.
For extracts, read the latest CQC inspection for Acorn House.
Annual service review
Name of Service: Acorn House The quality rating for this care home is: The rating was made on: 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 review of the service. We call this review a ‘key’ inspection We do an annual service review when there has been no key inspection of the service in the last 12 months. It does not involve a visit to the service but is a summary of new information given to us, or collected by us, since the last key inspection or annual service review.
Has this annual service review changed our opinion of the service?
No You should read the last key inspection report for this service to get a full picture of how well outcomes for the people using the service are being met. The date by which we will do a key inspection: Name of inspector: Nigel Thompson Date of this annual service review: 0 7 0 7 2 0 0 9 Annual Service Review Page 1 of 7 Information about the service
Address of service: 198 Ditchling Road Brighton East Sussex BN1 6JE 01273271237 Telephone number: Fax number: Email address: Provider web address:
a.chaudry2@ntlworld.com Name of registered provider(s): Conditions of registration: Category(ies) : learning disability Conditions of registration: Acorn (Watford) Ltd Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 Over 65 10 0 The maximum number of service users to be accommodated is 10. The registered person may provide the following category/ies of service only: Care home only - (PC) to service users of the following gender: Either Whose primary care needs on admission to the home are within the following categories: Learning disability (LD). Have there been any changes in the ownership, management or the Yes service’s registration details in the last 12 months? If yes, what have they been: Date of last key inspection: Date of last annual service review (if applicable): Brief description of the service Acorn House, 198 Ditchling Road is a home for up to ten adults with learning disabilities. All residents are female and for many of them this has been their home for almost twenty years. The home is a Victorian building situated close to Fiveways shopping area that also has a bank and a post office. Nearby are Blakers Park and Preston Park, there is also a choice of churches. A railway station within walking distance operates between Eastbourne and central Brighton. Parking is free locally and depending on the time of day can be undertaken outside the home or in the neighbouring roads.
Annual Service Review Page 2 of 7 None The home works directly with the Grace Eyre Foundation, a local charity that provides placements, day care and other activities for people with learning disabilities. Fees are under discussion at present. Additional charges are made for hairdressing, chiropody, newspapers and outside activities such as visits to the theatre. Intermediate care is not provided. Information about the service, including the Statement of Purpose, Service User?s Guide and CSCI reports is made available to prospective service users or their relatives, on request, as part of the admission process. Annual Service Review Page 3 of 7 Service update since the last key inspection or annual service review:
What did we do for this annual service review? We looked at all the information that we have received, or asked for, since the last key inspection or annual service review. This included The annual quality assurance assessment, AQAA, that was sent to us by the service. The AQAA is a self assessment that focuses on how well outcomes are being attained for people using the service. It also gave us some numerical information about the service. Information we have about how the service has managed any complaints. What the service has told us about things that have happened to the service users. We generally refer to these as notifications and it is a statutory requirement for the registered persons to inform the commission within 24 hours of their occurrence. Monthly reports the provider of more than one home is statutorily obliged to make and, if required, to submit to the Commission. The registered provider can undertake these, but more likely this is fulfilled by an appointed person with no connection to the home. We refer to these as providers reports. The previous key inspection and the results of any other visits that we have made to the service in the last twelve months. Relevant information from other organisations. What other people have told us about the service. What has this told us about the service? The home sent us their annual quality assurance assessment (AQAA) when we asked for it. It was clear, comprehensive and gave us all the information we asked for. We looked at the information in the AQAA and our judgement is that the home is still providing a good service for the people who live there. There were five requirements and three recommendations made following the previous inspection, relating to information provided to prospective residents, the updating of certain policies and procedures and the accessibility of the premises, in view of the increasing age and associated, changing needs of many residents. The inspection report was generally positive and outcomes for residents were found to be good. The report concluded that: Acorn House is an established, well-managed and generally well-maintained service that continues to provide good outcomes for the people who live there. Staff work closely with residents and have evidently developed a sound understanding of their individual care and support needs. The standard of the environment is generally good. The home provides residents with a homely, relaxed and caring environment. Residents are enabled where possible to Annual Service Review Page 4 of 7 exercise choice and control over their lives. The AQAA indicated a range of areas where improvements have been made during the last year: As required, the Statement of Purpose and Service User Guide have been reviewed and updated and clearly set out the physical environmental standards met by the home. A new Admission Policy has been developed and implemented. Person Centred Care Plans have been introduced and pictorial versions of residents Passports are being developed. An appointed senior support worker now has responsible for organising the new care plans. Regular care reviews are held for each resident with more frequent reviews undertaken as necessary to reflect changing needs or circumstances. Independence and individuality continue to be promoted within the home. Residents are encouraged to personalise their rooms and are involved in decisions regarding any changes to the decor in the home. Residents have evidently been consulted regarding the recent redecoration and refurbishment of many bedrooms. Worn and stained carpets have also been replaced since the last inspection. Consideration has been given and work is ongoing regarding necessary environmental adaptations to reflect residents changing needs. An Occupational Therapist has evidently been consulted and involved in this process. A Key Worker system has been developed and implemented. Four Senior staff are now on duty at weekends when the manager is not working. A new four week rolling rota has been introduced with designated roles and more flexible staff hours. The home encourages an open culture to enable residents and families to raise and discuss any problems or concerns. Complaints are well managed and residents, staff and visitors have confidence that they are listened to. A regularly updated Safeguarding Policy and Whistle blowing procedure is in place, which ensures that residents are protected from any kind of abuse. Policies and procedures have been implemented to safeguard residents from financial abuse. All financial transactions are recorded. Robust policies and procedures are in place relating to staff recruitment, annual leave and sickness absence Ongoing training is provided for all staff to ensure that they have the necessary skills and competencies to effectively meet the specific care and support needs of the residents. Staff are regularly supervised and training needs identified and acted upon. There are well designed and professionally recognised quality assurance processes in place, including annual satisfaction surveys.
Annual Service Review Page 5 of 7 There is clear evidence from the AQAA that the service is continuing to look at ways of making improvements to ensure positive outcomes for residents at Acorn House. What are we going to do as a result of this annual service review? We are not going to change our inspection plan, and will do a key inspection by 28.04. 2010. However we can inspect the service at any time if we have concerns about the quality of the service or the safety of the people using the service. Annual Service Review Page 6 of 7 Reader Information
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