We carried out a review of the data available to us about Saxon Close on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Saxon Close, you can give feedback on this service.
At our last inspection we rated the service as ‘good’. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of ‘good’ and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.
The people who lived at the service that we met were unable to tell us about their experiences in detail, so we observed the support they received and their interactions with staff to help us understand.
People using the service appeared to feel safe and were clearly comfortable in the presence of staff. Staff had received training to enable them to recognise signs of abuse and they felt confident in how to report these types of concerns. People had risk assessments in place to enable them to be as independent as possible whilst also remaining safe. Staff knew how to manage risks to promote people’s safety, and balanced these with people’s rights to take risks and remain independent.
There were sufficient numbers of skilled staff on duty to support people to have their needs met safely. Effective recruitment processes were in place to ensure only suitable staff were employed.
Medicines were managed safely and administered as prescribed and in a way that met people’s individual preferences. The service was clean and people were protected from the risk of infection.
Staff understood and worked in line with the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the associated Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
Staff received an induction process and on-going training. They had completed training related to the specific needs of the people using the service to ensure that they were able to provide skilled care based on current good practice. They were also supported with regular supervisions and annual performance reviews (appraisals).
People were supported to have enough to eat and drink and were involved in making choices about meals.
People were supported to access a variety of health professionals when required, including opticians, doctors and specialist nurses to make sure that they received appropriate healthcare to meet their needs.
Staff provided support in a caring and meaningful way. They knew the people who used the service well. People and relatives, where appropriate, were involved in the planning of their care and support. Where people were unable to be involved, the reason for this was recorded and care plans were written in people’s best interests in consultation with people who knew them well.
People’s privacy and dignity was maintained and staff treated them with kindness and respect. Care plans were written in a person-centred way and were responsive to people’s needs. People were supported to follow their interests and join in activities.
People were supported to make complaints by staff who understood the ways in which people communicated that they were unhappy about something. There was a complaints procedure in place and accessible to all. Complaints had been responded to appropriately.
Quality monitoring systems were in place. A variety of audits were carried out and used to drive continuous improvement. The registered manager and the provider promoted a person centred service and people were supported to share their views of the support provided.
This inspection took place on 09 December 2015 and was unannounced. When we last inspected the home in October 2013 we found that the provider was meeting the legal requirements in the areas that we looked at.
Saxon Close provides accommodation and support for up to six people who have a learning disability or physical disability. At the time of this inspection there were six people living at the home.
The home has a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
People were safe and the provider had effective systems in place to protect them from harm. Medicines were administered safely and people were supported to access other healthcare professionals to maintain their health and well-being.
People were involved in planning the menu and given a choice of nutritious food and drink throughout the day. People were encouraged to maintain their interests and hobbies. They were supported effectively and encouraged to develop and maintain their independence.
People were aware of the provider’s complaints system and information about this and other aspects of the service was available in an easy read format. They were encouraged to contribute to the development of the service.
Staff were well trained. They understood and complied with the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and the associated Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.
Staff were caring and respected people’s privacy and dignity. They were encouraged to contribute to the development of the service and understood the provider’s visions and values.
There was an effective quality assurance system in place.
We observed that people were offered support at a level which encouraged independence and ensured their individual needs were met. On arrival we were greeted by people who appeared happy and were keen to welcome us into their home. We found there was a calm atmosphere and people appeared relaxed in the company of the staff supporting them. We saw that staff were friendly, polite and respectful in their approach to people and interacted appropriately with them.
We reviewed four health action plans and found that people were referred to other professionals for treatment when required. This meant their health and well-being needs were met appropriately.
Saxon Close had effective infection control processes in place and we saw that these were based upon a robust policy, to which staff worked.
Staff received regular training that enabled them to provide appropriate care and support to the people who lived at Saxon Close. One person said, 'The training offered is fantastic, there is so much available.'
We found that records relating to both people and staff were updated on a regular basis and stored safely, in a locked room so as to protect people's confidentiality.
Displayed within the hall area were professional looking photographs of each person individually and also together as a group, which residents were keen to show us and tell us about their home.
People who lived at Saxon Close had varying communication abilities, but each person was able to tell us either verbally, or through body language that they enjoyed living in the home, felt supported by staff and each other, and were happy. One person said they were proud to show us their room, and said they were 'very happy'the home was lovely and peaceful' and they were able to do many things they wanted'.
People told us that they were happy living in the home. They said that they liked the staff, who were kind to them.