Enter and view: Acorn House Care Centre

Healthwatch Blackburn with Darwen carried out an Enter and View visit to Acorn House Care Centre, a 32-bed care home providing residential and dementia care for older people. Overall, the home received a green rating, with representatives finding it to be well managed, well maintained and staffed by a committed team. Residents, relatives and staff consistently described the home as welcoming and supportive, with management praised for being approachable and responsive. Staff morale appeared high despite ongoing recruitment challenges and the continuing impact of Covid-19. 

The environment was found to be clean, comfortable and dementia-friendly, with personalised bedroom doors, clear signage and attractive communal spaces. Residents generally spoke positively about their rooms and the overall atmosphere, although a small number reported that communal areas could become noisy, particularly when residents living with dementia were distressed or vocal. Healthwatch noted that the integration of residents with different support needs into a single lounge and dining area may have contributed to these concerns.

Activities were identified as a significant strength of the home. Residents described a varied programme that included quizzes, beauty sessions, gardening, visiting entertainers, theatre trips, pantomimes, Blackpool Illuminations outings and use of technology to access films, concerts and exercise sessions. Many residents also praised the food, particularly Sunday lunches and homemade desserts, and representatives observed meals that were well presented, nutritious and served flexibly to meet individual preferences. Relatives similarly expressed confidence in the quality of care and reported strong communication from staff and management. 

Healthwatch concluded that Acorn House provided a positive living environment with caring staff, good leadership and a strong activity programme. Areas for improvement included reducing noise levels in communal areas, addressing concerns from a small number of residents about staffing levels and supervision, and continuing efforts to maintain personalised care despite staffing pressures. Overall, residents reported feeling well cared for, listened to and supported, with many describing the home as friendly and family-like.