Acacia Lodge

Updated 9 January 2021

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our

regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal

requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of CQC’s response to care homes with outbreaks of coronavirus, we are conducting reviews to ensure that the Infection Prevention and Control practice was safe and the service was compliant with IPC measures. This was a targeted inspection looking at the IPC practices the provider has in place.

This inspection took place on 26 November 2020 and was announced.

Updated 9 January 2021

About the service

Acacia is a care home and was registered to provide accommodation for up to 18 people. People who used the service had physical health needs and/or enduring mental health needs. At the time of our inspection 17 people were using the service.

The accommodation was on one level. There were bedrooms with ensuite facilities, communal bathrooms and social spaces which included a lounge, dining area and activity space. There was also a secure garden with a separate smoking area.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People were supported by staff who understood how to protect people from the risk of harm or infection. Information was shared with people, so they knew how to access support when needed. Risks were identified and measures put in place following the least restrictive practice. There was enough staff to support people’s needs and this arrangement was flexible to support changes in care needs. Medicine was managed safety. People received regular reviews and any changes were recorded and monitored. Lessons were learnt when things went wrong and shared with staff.

Staff had received training for their roles and continued development was promoted. Information and best practice was shared with staff and training supporting this area to improve staff knowledge. People enjoyed nutritional meals and were part of the decision making. Health care was monitored, and relationships had been established with professionals who provided support and guidance. The home was on one level and supported people’s mobility and any personal reflections for their own spaces.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. Relationships had been established with staff and they supported people to make choices or follow their goals. There was an understanding about peoples cultural or equality needs. Privacy and choices were respected, and people liked the security of the CCTV.

The care plans were detailed and included people’s life history and current choices and preferences. They were regularly reviewed and shared with staff to support the current care needs required. When people expressed behaviours which were challenging, staff had completed a planned approach with professionals to support the best approach for that person.

Communication was shared with people through written information and on the notice boards. There was an opportunity to engage in activities to support people’s interests and hobbies, and these were discussed and agreed.

There was an open culture within the home and people and relatives felt able to raise any concerns. Staff felt listened to and were able to share ideas and any changes were supported. The home was well managed by a supportive governance system which reflected provider oversight and ongoing learning and improvement. Audits were completed and supported this approach.

People’s views were sought from meetings and questionnaires and their suggestions responded to and shared through written information. Partnerships had been established with health and social care professionals to support the people who use the service and the staff in their role.

The registered manager understood their role and sent us notifications of incidents and displayed their current rating at the home and on the website.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection: The last rating for this service was Good (published 30 August 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.