Hepworth House
Wakefield, WF3 · 1.3 km
ResidentialDementia
Rated 3 years agocare home
CQC report explained · a residential care home, run by GT Care (Wakefield)
The Acorns
77 Clifton Avenue, Stanley, Wakefield, WF3 4HB
Goodpublished 14 December 2023, 2 years ago
Rated Good: inspectors found the service performing well and meeting their expectations.
The five questions inspectors ask
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm, and there were enough suitable staff. Inspectors found some infection control, cleanliness and medicine recording issues, which the registered manager addressed.
- Effective?
- Good
- This question was not inspected during this focused visit. Its previous rating was used when calculating the overall rating.
- Caring?
- Good
- People and relatives said staff were kind and supportive. Inspectors found that people’s dignity, privacy, independence and choices were respected.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This question was not inspected during this focused visit. Its previous rating was used when calculating the overall rating.
- Well-led?
- Requires improvement
- Management systems and audits did not always identify or resolve concerns about infection control, medicines and records. The registered manager was asked to embed these processes into practice.
The latest report, explained
What inspectors found, December 2023
Rated Good overall; inspectors found kind and safe care, but the home’s leadership and checking systems require improvement.
This was an unannounced focused inspection on 9 and 10 November 2023. One inspector and an Expert by Experience spoke with people, relatives and staff, and checked care, medicines, recruitment and management records.
The home was rated Good for Safe and Caring. People were protected from abuse, there were enough suitable staff, medicines were administered safely, and people described staff as kind and supportive. Some infection control, cleanliness and medicine recording issues were found and addressed during or after the inspection.
Well-led was rated Requires Improvement. The home’s audits and checks had not always found or resolved the problems inspectors identified. The registered manager was asked to make sure these systems become part of consistent practice.
The overall rating remained Good. The inspection only directly reviewed Safe, Caring and Well-led. The other ratings were carried forward from the previous inspection, which was published on 30 November 2017.
What inspectors praised
Kind and respectful care
People enjoyed living at the home and staff knew them well. Inspectors saw warm and friendly interactions, while people’s privacy, dignity and independence were respected.
“Staff knew people well and interacted with people in a caring and understanding way.” from the report
Safe staffing and recruitment
Inspectors saw enough staff to support people’s current needs. Recruitment processes were described as safe.
“The provider ensured there were sufficient numbers of suitable staff.” from the report
Medicines administered safely
Staff who administered medicines were trained and competent. Inspectors observed medicines being given safely, although some records needed improvement.
“We observed medicines being administered safely.” from the report
People involved in their care
People took part in planning activities, holidays and celebrations. Relatives said they were kept informed and involved.
“People were involved in social events and took part in planning holidays, activities and celebrations such as birthdays and seasonal events.” from the report
What inspectors were concerned about
Infection control and cleanliness
needs fixingStaff were not consistently following safe infection control practices. Inspectors also found some areas that were unclean or needed maintenance, although the registered manager took action.
“We observed several staff wearing coats and/or long-sleeved clothing which presented a risk of cross infection.” from the report
Medicine records
needs fixingThere were minor recording problems, including missing temperature records for medicine storage areas. The registered manager acted after the inspection.
“During our inspection we found some minor recording issues and temperatures were not being recorded of storage areas.” from the report
Management checks
needs fixingThe home’s audits did not always identify or resolve the issues found by inspectors. The registered manager was recommended to make sure the systems work consistently.
“A range of quality audits had not always been instrumental in identifying or resolving the issues we found during our inspection.” from the report
Questions to ask them, based on this report
- 01What checks are now in place to make sure staff follow infection control practices consistently?
- 02How do you record and check medicine storage temperatures and other medicine records?
- 03What action was taken to clean and maintain the en-suite bathroom and utility room?
- 04How do your audits now identify and resolve problems before they affect people?
- 05What evidence can you show that the improvements requested for Well-led have been embedded in everyday practice?
This was a focused inspection of Safe, Caring and Well-led only; the other ratings were carried forward from the previous inspection published on 30 November 2017. This explanation was written from the published report of 14 December 2023 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
The story over the years
Every inspection of The Acorns
3 rated inspections over 8 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- December 2023Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- February 2021Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- November 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodCaring: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- May 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2012
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 28 March 2012.
Ratings and report dates from the Care Quality Commission. A service can also be visited without a new rating being published, so the timeline shows published inspections, not every contact the CQC has had with the service.
Another option
Or stay at home with a private carer
Many people who look at care homes end up staying at home with a carer who comes in for a few hours a day, or lives in. PrimeCarers introduces you to self-employed carers you choose yourself: interviewed, ID and DBS checked, from about £20 an hour or £1,120 a week live-in.
Nearby
Other care homes near Wakefield
Outstanding
Ashby Lodge Residential Home
Wakefield, WF1 · 1.3 km
ResidentialDementia
Rated 10 months agocare home
Advent House
Wakefield, WF3 · 1.6 km
Residential
Rated 3 months agocare home
Wood Dene
Wakefield, WF3 · 1.7 km
Residential
Rated 3 years agocare home
West Ridings Care Home
Wakefield, WF3 · 2.2 km
NursingDementia
Rated 7 months agocare home
Brantwood Hall Care Home
Wakefield, WF1 · 2.4 km
ResidentialDementia
Rated 4 months agocare home