CQC requires improvement at Acorn House care home, Stockton-on-Tees

24 May 2013

A report which has been published on the CQC website this week identifies the findings from a CQC inspection carried out in February 2013.

When they visited the home inspectors found that the provider was failing to meet seven national standards of quality and safety. By law, providers of care services must ensure that they are meeting all standards.

The provider has been told that they must provide an action plan setting out how she will comply with the legal standards.

On inspection CQC found that personal care records for people living at the home were not always accurate, complete or up to date, and in some cases contained contradictory information. Inspectors were concerned that there were insufficient systems in place to assess and identify people’s risk of malnutrition or skin integrity damage.

Visiting inspectors also identified concerns with regards to the suitability and safety of both premises and equipment. A review of the home’s health and safety records showed that the last fire drill had taken place eleven months ago in March 2012. Safe hot water temperatures were not being maintained and effective systems were not in place to monitor and identify building maintenance and equipment servicing needs.

A review of staff records revealed that some staff had been employed without appropriate pre-employment checks having been carried out, and inspectors found that there were insufficient numbers of staff on duty to provide adequate care that fully met the needs of all residents

Staff training records supplied to inspectors were found to be out of date and suitable arrangements were not in place to ensure that staff received appropriate and regular training.

Acorn House provides accommodation and personal care for up to 14 older people, some of whom have dementia.

Malcolm Bower-Brown, CQC’s director in the North said:

“CQC has been working closely with the local authority to ensure the safety and wellbeing of people receiving care at Acorn House and we have told the provider where they must improve.

“We continue to monitor the situation carefully and will not hesitate to take further regulatory action should this prove necessary to ensure the people using the service receive the service they are entitled to expect"

Any regulatory decision that CQC takes is open to challenge by a registered person through a variety of internal and external appeal processes.

Ends

For further information please contact the CQC Regional Communications Team, David Fryer 07901 514 220 or Kirstin Hannaford 0191 233 3629.

The CQC press office can be contacted on 0207 448 9401 or out of hours on 07917 232 143.

Notes to editors

You can read the full report at the Acorn House page.