Saxon Lodge

Updated 30 June 2023

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of this inspection, we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

One inspector and an Expert by Experience carried out this inspection. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

Saxon Lodge is a ‘care home.’ People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Saxon Lodge is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced. Inspection activity started on 5 June 2023 and ended on 12 June 2023. We visited the location’s service on 5 and 7 June. One of these visits took place outside of normal working hours.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 5 relatives and an advocate who supported 2 people. We spoke with 5 staff including the registered manager and 4 care staff. We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.

We reviewed 3 people’s records, 2 staff recruitment and training records. We reviewed records relating to the running of the service including policies and procedures.

Updated 30 June 2023

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.

About the service

Saxon Lodge is a residential care home providing the regulated activity personal care to up to 9 people. The service provides support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people. At the time of our inspection there were 9 people using the service. The service accommodates people in 1 purpose-built building across 2 floors. It is located in a residential area.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

Right Support:

The environment was clean, large and spacious which included a variety of communal areas. Ongoing maintenance kept the service to a good standard. Adaptations were in place to support people to be independent. The environment reflected the people who lived there with photographs, artwork and personalised decorative accessories on display in bedrooms and communal areas.

Relatives spoke very highly of staff who were extremely skilled in supporting people to live fulfilled lives. People had choice in all aspects of their lives and were supported to do all they wanted to do. Staff had a flexible approach and accommodated people’s wishes. They regularly went out in their community and further afield. Where there were shared interests, people went out together.

People were supported to access healthcare and staff championed their rights to make sure they received timely care and support. They received their medicines and staff worked in-line with recommendations from health professionals. Staff supported people to make decisions following best practice in decision-making. Staff communicated with people in ways that met their needs.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

Right Care:

Staff promoted equality and diversity in their support for people. They understood people’s cultural needs and provided culturally appropriate care.

There were always enough staff on duty to provide safe care to people. Staff completed regular training and were very skilled in their care of people. They acted quickly when needed to keep people safe. They maintained dialogue with relatives and health professionals who had confidence in them to ensure people received timely person-centred care.

Staff knew people really well, referring to people as ‘family.’ They communicated with people in the way they preferred and consistently understood individual communication needs. People had their own way of communicating, which included sounds, gestures, body language, pictures and symbols.

The care people received reflected their range of needs, wishes and preferences. The approach taken by staff supported people’s well-being and enhanced and enriched their lives. Relatives said they were involved in their loved one’s care. One relative said, “I’m invited to [develop] plans, reviews and meetings. I’m listened to, definitely. [Staff] always ask my advice and are looking to improve things. They go out of their way to identify what [person] likes and they are willing to explore different things.”

Right Culture:

People led inclusive and empowered lives because of the ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of the management and staff. People received the best care from staff who had the right skills, experience and training. They empowered people to do all that they wanted to do. An advocate said the service had, “Genuinely caring staff who go above and beyond to make sure people get what they need. “It’s individualised care; it’s warm and welcoming and everybody gets involved. People are really well cared for and loved.”

People were supported by staff who understood best practice in relation to the wide range of strengths, impairments or sensitivities people with a learning disability and/or autistic people may have. This meant people received compassionate and empowering care that was tailored to their needs.

Staff placed people at the centre of their care. They were responsive to whatever people wanted to do and achieve. Staff spoke highly of people and went ‘above and beyond’ for them to live the best lives possible.

The service was committed to a culture of improvement and regularly sought feedback to this. The service enabled people and those important to them to work with staff to develop the service. Staff valued and acted upon people’s views. People’s quality of life was enhanced by the service’s culture of improvement and inclusivity.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was good (published 18 December 2019).

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.