Acorn House - Laindon

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

We did not look at all quality statements for Effective during this assessment. The service was Effective. This rating uses some scores from our previous inspection. People’s needs were assessed, and care plans were reviewed. Staff teams and external services worked well together.

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.

Referrals to external professionals including the GP, Psychiatrist and Occupational Therapist were made when needed. We saw good evidence of this during our on-site assessment and one relative told us, “[Relative] has regular visits from the GP.” People were involved in the assessment process. Staff told us, “People are always given choices, they [people] are always involved in what they want and are also empowered with the help of the staff.” A health professional told us they felt confident the provider always contacted them with any health concerns, whether they were physical or mental changes to needs. The provider ensured care plans were reviewed and updated when required. Relatives were involved where appropriate.

We did not look at Delivering evidence-based care and treatment during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Effective.

We did not look at How staff, teams and services work together during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Effective.

We did not look at Supporting people to live healthier lives during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Effective.

We did not look at Monitoring and improving outcomes during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Effective.

During our on-site assessment, we observed staff offering choices and using the appropriate communication tools to help support people with making decisions.

A health professional told us, “They (staff) are kind, patient, and adapt their communication to help the clients understand.” Staff were aware of people’s individual ways of communication and ensured people were communicated with in their chosen way.

People can only be deprived of their liberty to receive care and treatment when this is in their best interests and legally authorised under the Mental Capacity Act (MCA). In care homes, and some hospitals, this is usually through MCA application procedures called the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). People assessed as requiring a DoLS authorisation had one in place and notifications had been made to CQC as required. The registered manager had processes in place to ensure any DoLS authorisations due to be reapplied for, were completed within the appropriate timeframe. The provider had assessed people’s capacity to make decisions relating to their care to ensure any decisions were made in people's best interests and the relevant representatives were consulted. Staff had received training in The Mental Capacity Act. Care plans included details about people’s mental capacity and their ability to make decisions for themselves.