Archived: Saxon Court

Updated 7 May 2022

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

The inspection was undertaken by two inspectors.

Service and service type

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

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. They were also the provider and are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

Before the inspection we reviewed the information, we held about the service and the service provider. We sought feedback from the local authority. We looked at the notifications we had received for this service. Notifications are information about important events the service is required to send us by law. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

The provider was not asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

During the inspection

We spoke with five people who lived at Saxon Court. Not everyone could express themselves verbally therefore we spent time in communal areas observing interactions between people and staff. We spoke with 11 members of staff including the provider, two senior managers from the organisation and the deputy manager.

We reviewed a range of records. This included five people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment. A variety of records relating to the maintenance of the home were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. This included training and supervision data, meeting minutes and a range of policies. We received feedback from three relatives and four health and social care professionals who have had involvement with the service.

Updated 7 May 2022

About the service

Saxon Court is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care to up to 49 people. The service provides support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people. At the time of our inspection there were 10 people using the service. One of whom did not have a learning disability.

The provider told us that currently a maximum of 20 people would be able to live at the home. This was because refurbishment of other rooms was required.

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

The provider had worked hard to address the areas for improvement following the last inspection. Although significant improvements had been made, further time was needed to fully embed these changes into day to day practice as the service continues to grow and develop.

Improvements had been made to the quality assurance system. Areas for improvement and development were identified and actions taken. These were continuing to be reviewed and developed to include all the relevant information. Changes had been made to record keeping, but further improvements were required to ensure that records fully reflected people’s needs and contained all the information staff may need.

Risks to people were generally well managed as staff knew people well and understood their needs. However, risk assessments were not always in place.

Although the home was clean and tidy improvements were needed to ensure all high touch points were regularly cleaned.

People were protected from the risks of abuse and discrimination. However, there was a keypad on one door in the communal area. Although the door was closed, and there was no evidence to suggest that this was to restrict people’s movements, it did mean people did not have free access throughout the home.

People were supported by staff who were kind and caring. Staff knew people really well and understood how to support them with individualised care. There was a system in place to ensure people’s medicines were managed safely. There were enough staff, who had been safely recruited to support people.

The provider and staff team were committed to improving and developing the service.

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.

Based on our review of key questions Safe and Well-led. The service was not able to demonstrate how they were meeting some of the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture.

Right support: Model of care and setting maximises people’s choice, control and Independence;

The home was much larger than most domestic style properties. However, it was similar in design to other homes in the area. There were identifying signs visible outside the home which showed it was a care home and who support was provided for. At the time of the inspection most of the people who lived at Saxon Court had lived together there for many years. The provider told us that due to the layout of the home they were able to divide the home into separate units when more people moved in.

Improvements were needed to promote and develop some people’s independence and to support them to be involved in making their own choices and decisions about the running of the home.

Right care: Care is person-centred and promotes people’s dignity, privacy and human rights;

Care provided was person-centred. Staff knew people well and understood what was important to each person. Staff supported people in line with their individual preferences and abilities. They respected each person and took account of their rights as individuals. One relative told us, “[Name] has lived there for many years, she is really happy.”

Right culture: Ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of leaders and care staff ensure people using services lead confident, inclusive and empowered lives;

The provider and staff were committed to supporting people to live a happy, contented and as least restrictive lives as possible. People were supported and encouraged to maintain their skills and independence. Due to their age and general frailty some people chose to live a more sedentary life. People were given choices about how they lived their lives and what they done each day. However, further work was needed to ensure people’s independence was fully promoted and opportunities for development

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

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was rated Inadequate (published 18 November 2021). There were four breaches of regulation. We imposed a condition on the provider’s registration and the service was placed in special measures.

At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations. However, further time is needed to allow these improvements to be fully implemented and embedded into everyday practice. The service is now rated Requires Improvement.

This service has been in Special Measures since 18 November 2021. During this inspection the provider demonstrated that improvements have been made. The service is no longer rated as Inadequate overall or in any of the key questions. Therefore, this service is no longer in Special Measures.

Why we inspected

We undertook this focused inspection to follow up on the concerns identified at the previous inspection.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect. The provider will continue to send us information as part of their condition of registration. We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress.