Acorn
Acorn is a residential care home in Hove, Brighton and Hove (BN3 6NR). It holds a CQC rating of Requires Improvement.
About Acorn
Acorn Hove is a residential home in Hove for adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults, including people living with dementia. We offer planned respite stays as well as longer placements. This is somebody's home before it is anything else. The people who live here choose how their rooms look, have a real say in meals and in the shape of the week, and are supported to keep up the relationships and interests that matter to them. Having preferences and making choices should not quietly disappear because somebody lives in a supported setting, and much of our work is making sure it does not. Support is planned around each person. For some that means a busy week out in Hove and the surrounding area; for others a quieter and highly predictable rhythm, which is an equally good way to live. With autistic people in particular we pay close attention to routine, to warning of change and to the sensory side of the environment, because those details tend to decide whether a day goes well. Our most recent overall rating from the Care Quality Commission is requires improvement. We would rather tell you that ourselves. We know the areas that were identified, we are working through them with the staff team, and if you visit we will be honest about what has improved and what is still outstanding. Please do come and see Acorn Hove if you are considering it for someone.
Care provided at Acorn
- Dementia care
- Learning disability and autism support
- Respite care
- Last CQC inspection: 14 June 2018
Read the full inspection report on the CQC website.
What the inspectors found
A plain English summary of the Care Quality Commission inspection behind the current rating of Acorn Hove. Report published 6 April 2023.
- 15 February 2023
- 12 places, 8 people were using the service at the time
Safe
Inspectors found that robust recruitment checks were not being completed, and CQC identified a breach in relation to safe recruitment of staff. Accidents and incidents were not routinely monitored, which meant there were missed opportunities for learning. Inspectors also made a recommendation about the management of some medicines.
Well-led
Inspectors found that the governance and quality assurance systems were not robust, and CQC identified a breach in relation to these systems. Audits and action plans were in place, but they were not always completed, and some actions were not followed up or written down. Inspectors also found a positive culture, and staff and people said the interim manager was approachable when they raised concerns.
What people told the inspectors
People were happy with the care provided and enjoyed living at the home. They spoke well of the staff team and of the changes since the last inspection.
[Staff] are all great. I can tell them anything. We’re like a family. A person living at the home
Since the last inspection
Rated Requires improvement in April 2023, down from Good.
Safe moved from Good to Requires improvement; Well-led moved from Good to Requires improvement; Effective is still Good; Caring is still Good; Responsive is still Good.
- 15 February 2023: Inspection looking at part of the service
- 24 April 2018: Routine inspection
- 18 June 2015: Routine inspection
- 7 November 2013: Inspection looking at part of the service
- Date not held: Our previous inspection, on 11
- 11 July 2013: Routine inspection
Read the full report on the CQC website
Source: Care Quality Commission inspection report, summarised by CareAssura. Contains CQC data used under the Open Government Licence.
How Acorn Hove compares in Brighton and Hove
Measured against the 85 care homes registered in Brighton and Hove. The dark dot is this home.
- Size
- 12 places. Smaller than 56 of the 85 homes. The local average is 24 places.
- CQC rating
- Requires improvement. 75 of the 85 homes (88%) are rated Good or Outstanding. Across Brighton and Hove the figure is 88%.
- Latest report
- 6 April 2023. 36 of the 85 homes have published a newer inspection report since.
- Registered
- December 2010. One of the longer established homes. 75 of the 85 registered more recently.
- Care offered
- Dementia care. Of the 85 homes, 29 offer dementia care.
- Food hygiene
- 4 out of 5. The same rating as 5 of the 72 homes that have one.
Powered by Orrery Intelligence. Data: CQC register and Food Standards Agency ratings. Counts cover registered care homes in Brighton and Hove.
The local picture: Brighton and Hove
What the numbers say about care for older people in Brighton and Hove.
What care costs in Brighton and Hove, per week
| Type of care | What the council pays | What self-funders are typically asked |
|---|
| Residential care | £1,124 | £1,500 to £1,809 (South East figure, because too few Brighton and Hove homes publish this price. 107 homes. Median £1,600.) |
| Nursing care | £1,266 | £1,617 to £2,080 (South East figure, because too few Brighton and Hove homes publish this price. 63 homes. Median £1,933.) |
| Residential dementia care | Not published separately | £1,571 to £1,942 (South East figure, because too few Brighton and Hove homes publish this price. 82 homes. Median £1,709.) |
| Nursing dementia care | Not published separately | £1,975 to £2,226 (South East figure, because too few Brighton and Hove homes publish this price. 37 homes. Median £2,050.) |
Published prices are often starting prices, and come from homes that publish fees, so treat them as a guide. Ask the home for its own price.
- People aged 75 and over: 20,100. Rising to 23,200 by 2035, up 16%
- People aged 85 and over: 5,600. Rising to 7,600 by 2035, up 37%
- Living with dementia, aged 65 and over (estimate): 2,700. Rising to 3,300 by 2035, up 22%
- Dementia diagnosis rate: 66%. The NHS ambition is 67%.
- Care home beds per 1,000 people aged 75+: 88
- Care homes, last 12 months: 1 opened, 0 closed. 2 changed owner, covering 80 beds.
- Care home beds filled across Brighton and Hove: 89%. The 12 month average is 88%.
- Who pays, across Brighton and Hove (estimate): 62% council, 34% self. The rest is NHS funded or other.
Powered by Orrery Intelligence. Market model built 22 October 2026 (ONS 2022 based population projections, dementia estimates, CQC register), published care home prices, council planning records.
Good to know about Acorn Hove
Facts from public registers, and what is close by.
- Registered with CQC
- 14 December 2010, so 15 years.
- Food hygiene rating
- 4 out of 5. Good. Last inspected by the local council on 28 February 2023.
- Run by
- Loxwood House Ltd, which runs this service only.
Sources: CQC register, Food Standards Agency, OpenStreetMap contributors. Distances are in a straight line from the postcode, not walking or driving routes.
Local services near Acorn Hove
The closest places to this home, measured in a straight line from its postcode. They are the nearest, not necessarily the ones the home uses. Ask the home which GP, dentist and pharmacy its residents are registered with.
Nearest 24 hour A&E
- Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, 2.4 miles away
It is about 2.4 miles in a straight line from the postcode. The drive is usually longer. In an emergency call 999; the ambulance may take you elsewhere.
Nearest GP practices
Nearest dentists
Nearest pharmacies
Nearest railway stations
- Hove Station, 0.3 miles away
- Preston Park Station, 0.7 miles away
- Aldrington Station, 0.8 miles away
Around Acorn Hove
- H: Acorn Hove
- A: 24 hour A&E
- G: GP practice
- D: Dentist
- P: Pharmacy
- S: Railway station
Straight line distances, not routes. Places very close to the home are spread out slightly so they can be told apart.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Practice and pharmacy details from the NHS England Organisation Data Service. A&E sites from NHS England A&E data and the Organisation Data Service. Railway stations from the Department for Transport NaPTAN dataset. Distances are straight line and approximate.
Common questions about Acorn
Where is Acorn located?
Acorn is a residential care home in Hove, Brighton and Hove, BN3 6NR. You can view its exact location and get directions from the map on this page.
What type of care does Acorn provide?
Acorn is registered to provide residential personal care, with support that includes Dementia care, Learning disability and autism support, Respite care. The full list of services is shown on this page.
What is Acorn's CQC rating?
Acorn is registered with and inspected by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Its most recent overall rating is Requires Improvement following its last inspection on 14 June 2018. You can read the full CQC report from the link on this page.
Does Acorn provide dementia care?
Yes. Acorn supports people living with dementia. We recommend contacting the home directly to discuss your individual situation.
Does Acorn offer respite or short-term care?
Yes. Acorn offers respite and short-term care. Availability changes regularly, so it is best to enquire directly.
Questions families ask about Acorn
Can Mum or Dad stay here if their dementia gets worse?
Yes. Acorn Hove is registered for dementia care, so someone whose needs increase can usually stay rather than move.
Is there a nurse on site if health needs change?
No. Acorn Hove is a residential care home without on-site nursing. District nurses and GPs visit, but someone who needs daily nursing may have to move to a nursing home.
Can they try a short stay before deciding?
Yes. Yes. Acorn Hove offers respite and short stays, which is a good way to see whether the home is the right fit.
Will they support end of life care, so there is no move at the hardest time?
Ask the home. End of life care is not listed on the register. Ask the manager whether residents can remain in the home with hospice or district nurse support.
Can she bring her cat or dog?
Ask the home. The home has not told us its pet policy yet. Ask directly; some homes allow small pets in residents' rooms or welcome visiting dogs.
Can a couple stay together?
Ask the home. We do not know whether the home has rooms for couples. Ask about shared or adjoining rooms if this matters.
Will the council help pay, or is it self funded only?
Ask the home. The home has not told us which funding it accepts. Most homes take both council funded and self funded residents; ask about council rates and any top up.
Do they take younger adults as well as older people?
Ask the home. The register does not say which age groups the home supports. Ask the home.
Can I visit before deciding, and are there visiting hours?
Ask the home. Every home should welcome a visit. Call to arrange one, ideally at a mealtime or during an activity, and ask about visiting hours for family.
Typical weekly fees in the South East
Acorn Hove has not published its fees yet. These are typical weekly fees for the South East, so you know roughly what to expect before you call.
- Residential care: £1,100 to £1,450 per week per person, typical range
- Dementia care: £1,200 to £1,550 per week per person, typical range
Indicative figures for the South East, not a quote from Acorn Hove. Actual fees depend on the room, the level of care and how it is funded.
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