Acton Care Centre

We assessed the service because there had been concerns raised by relatives of people receiving care at Acton Care Centre regarding the quality and safety of the service.

During the assessment, we found a breach of regulation in relation to safe care and treatment While the home demonstrated several areas of good practice, improvements were needed to medicine practices. The service could not provide assurance that medicines requiring refrigeration were stored in line with the manufacturer's guidance. Furthermore, some prescribed medicines were being administered covertly without a robust process in place to confirm their suitability for covert administration.

The service was not meeting all regulatory standards at the time of inspection.

We have asked the provider for an action plan in response to the concerns found at this assessment and we will continue to monitor the progress.

Despite the shortfalls identified, we found that medicines, including controlled drugs, were stored securely, with access restricted to authorised staff only. Daily checks of controlled drugs were carried out by staff, and the provider conducted monthly audits to support the safe management of medicines. Medicine related incidents were appropriately recorded, and learning from these incidents was shared with the team.

There were sufficient numbers of staff with the right skills, qualifications, and experience to meet people’s needs. The provider demonstrated a clear commitment to staff wellbeing, and staff we spoke with expressed positive views about their workplace and the management team.

People received care that was safe, person-centred, and delivered with dedication. People and their relatives were involved in their care planning and risks to people were regularly assessed and effectively mitigated contributing to a sense of safety for those using the service. People and their relatives spoke positively about the staff and the senior management team.

Staff knew people using the service well and understood their needs. Staff supported individuals’ independence and worked to minimise any barriers to receiving personalised care. People were given choice and options and were treated with kindness, empathy, and compassion. Their privacy and dignity were respected in all aspects of care, and staff consistently reported enjoying their roles.