Acorn Community Care

People lived in their own homes, either on their own or in a shared house for up to three people in and around the local area. People had support overnight. Staff had access to an on-call service 24 hours a day in the event of an emergency or unplanned situation.

The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

People felt safe with the staff supporting them. Staff were safely recruited and trained to use medicines safely as prescribed. Accidents and incidents provided opportunities for staff to reflect on their practice and were used to support improvements across the service.

People received effective support from staff, who were skilled and familiar with their needs. 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. We have made a recommendation about record keeping for mental capacity assessments and best interest decisions.

The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.

People and their relatives praised the caring approach by staff and felt confident in their care. Staff were aware of people's emotional needs and provided support.

People's care was person-centred and provided in flexible ways to adapt to their preferences. People were encouraged to pursue their interests and try new activities. People had opportunities to form new friendships and maintain their relationships with family members.