Acorn Home Care, a leading provider of care services for people in their own homes in the Midlands has installed a £40,000 specialised computer system to help it stay ahead of the field in the quality and cost-effectiveness of its domiciliary care services.

Acorn, which recently opened a new finance administration centre at Regent Street, Nottingham, says the new state of the art system will keep careful records of the specific needs and requirements of all its clients' specific needs to enable the company to make the most effective use of its carers in meeting those needs.

The system, developed and installed by Bristol based Coldharbour Systems, specialists in computer solutions for the home care sector, will also enable Acorn to monitor accurately the hours worked for each client, giving it complete financial control over its expanding activities.

"Acorn needed to invest in up-to-date technology and systems to allow it to expand at the expected rate and fulfil its potential," said Nicky Wilcox, partner in charge of IT at Beeston accountants Jackson Bly and Co, who advised Acorn on the new system.

"Using good quality software as provided by Coldharbour Systems will allow Acorn's management team to concentrate on continuing to provide high level care in the community for a wider range of clients".

Acorn Home Care - founded in Walsall by Patrick Quinn in 1993 - has grown steadily, and now has branch offices in Aldridge, Willenhall, Lichfield, Leicester and Gloucester, all of which are now linked through Coldharbour's new computer system.

The Company delivers in excess of over 200,000 hours per annum and is now poised on the verge of further growth and expansion, and says the new system will help it achieve growth without losing control.

The company employs some 200 carers who between them provide a range of comprehensive in-home caring services to several hundred people - mostly elderly - enabling them to continue living in their own homes.

Mr Quinn said: "We have always aimed to provide the best care service for people in their own homes, and this domiciliary care package from Coldharbour Systems will keep us at the leading edge of the home care sector in the Midlands."

Acorn's legal adviser Adrian Forster, commercial partner at Actons in Nottingham, said "I am delighted Acorn has invested in upgrading its information technology.

"With tendering processes becoming ever more sophisticated, it is essential to have in place the most efficient systems that are available to deliver the standards of service that the market expects.

"This investment presents an excellent platform for growth. It will greatly enhance Acorn's capacity to take on a greater share of the home care market in the communities that it already serves and also to win new business.

"For those in receipt of care this is good news too. They can expect to see the benefit through the improvement and extension of the services that Acorn can provide."