Background to this inspection
Updated
15 July 2021
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 Care Act 2014.
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
The inspection was carried out by two inspectors.
Service and service type
Acorn Lodge Nursing Home is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
At the time of inspection, the home did not have a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. A registered manager and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided. A new manager was in place who was completing the registration process.
Notice of inspection
We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection due to the Covid-19 pandemic to ensure we had prior information to promote safety.
What we did before inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and commissioners who work with the service. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with five people who used the service and two relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with seven members of staff including the manager, deputy manager, clinical lead, a unit manager, nurse, a senior carer and the nominated individual. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider.
We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found.
Updated
15 July 2021
About the service
Acorn Lodge Nursing Home is a residential nursing home which provides personal and nursing care for up to 85 people. At the time of the inspection 72 people were living at the home.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Some records were not always accessible, accurate or up to date, including body maps for the application of creams and patches, we brought these to the attention of the manger who took immediate action.
We have made a recommendation about recording practices.
Moving and handling training was safe. Competency checks had been completed and appropriate equipment was in place to assist staff when moving and handling people. People were safeguarded from abuse. Staff were safely recruited and staffing levels were adequate. The home was clean and tidy, though some cleaning records had missing signatures. Staff used appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).
Person centred care was being provided and people had their own care plans which were reviewed. People's communication needs were recorded, and complaints were logged and responded to. The service was supporting visits from family and loved ones in line with relevant guidance, and activities were taking place in the home. End of life wishes were discussed, though at the time of inspection not all staff had received end of life training. During the inspection the provider sourced appropriate training for staff to complete.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection and update
The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 15 October 2019) and there were multiple breaches of regulation. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.
Why we inspected
We carried out an announced focussed inspection of this service on 20 and 21 August 2019. Breaches of legal requirements were found. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve safe care and treatment and good governance.
We undertook this focused inspection to check they had followed their action plan and to check if they now met legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to the Key Questions safe, responsive and well-led which contain those requirements.
The ratings from the previous comprehensive inspection for those key questions not looked at on this occasion were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection. The overall rating for the service has changed from requires improvement to good. This is based on the findings at this inspection.
We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Acorn Lodge Nursing Home on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.