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CQC staff carried out the inspection as part of routine monitoring of services. They rated how effective, caring, responsive and well-led the service is as outstanding again, with safety rated as good. The hospice, run by Acorns Children’s Hospice Trust, provides a range of services including day care, short breaks, support at home through an outreach service, support for children transitioning into adult services, end-of-life care and after death care for families. While its service is registered to provide care for children 0 to 18 years, it has transitioned into adult services. During the inspection, it was found staff always treated people with kindness and compassion and protected their privacy and dignity. The hospice was found to provide people with carefully tailored and individualised treatment that met their needs effectively, and staff understood and managed the risks people could face well. Leaders made sure the facilities and equipment met people’s needs and were clean and well-maintained and they were found to be visible, knowledgeable and supportive, and helped staff develop in their roles. Staff understood their roles and responsibilities and were passionate about continually developing how they delivered hospice care. Managers were receptive to new ideas and actively encouraged staff to get involved in innovation and research. The hospice also worked closely with partner organisations to help young people achieve better outcomes and support smooth transitions between services Amanda Lyndon, CQC deputy director of operations in Birmingham, said: “We were pleased to visit Acorns Children’s Hospice in Birmingham and find they had maintained an exceptional level of care. "They put children and young people at the centre of everything they did to provide exemplary treatment and support, making a difficult time easier for the whole family. “People told us they were delighted with the service and that lovely staff treated them with warmth and kindness. We also heard how much families appreciated staff extending support to the whole family to support them as part of their loved one’s care. “We observed staff involving people in their assessments and considering their communication needs and personal preferences. "They ensured people were involved in decisions and could make choices about their care, while regularly reviewing assessment plans to make sure people received effective care that met their needs. “Strong leadership helped shape care, as leaders constantly developed the service by learning from feedback and making improvements. "They fostered an open culture where people and staff felt comfortable raising concerns. Managers investigated incidents thoroughly and shared their findings with staff. “Staff continuously looked for ways to monitor and measure people’s outcomes. “In short, the hospice did everything possible to continually develop their services and give young people and their families the best possible experience and outcomes. Other care services should look at this report to see what they can learn.” The report will be published on the CQC’s website in the coming days.
