CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Saxonwood
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured about infection prevention and control, including PPE, testing, cleaning, visiting and outbreak management. The provider also described measures to reduce the effect of COVID-19-related staffing pressures.
- Effective?
- Good
- This area was not inspected or rated in this report.
- Caring?
- Good
- This area was not inspected or rated in this report.
- Responsive?
- Outstanding
- This area was not inspected or rated in this report.
- Well-led?
- Good
- This area was not inspected or rated in this report.
What inspectors found, March 2022
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found strong infection control, safe visiting arrangements and support for people's wellbeing.
This was an unannounced, targeted inspection on 17 February 2022. It looked mainly at infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and staffing pressures during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Inspectors were assured that the home used protective equipment safely, arranged testing, managed outbreaks and kept the building clean. Visitors had safety measures, including appointments, hand washing and a garden visitor pod. Staff also helped people keep in touch by video, telephone or email.
The home had experienced two outbreaks, but had extra measures for these periods. Staff received infection control training and checks. The inspection did not give an overall quality rating. Safe was recorded as inspected but not rated.
Infection control
Inspectors were assured that the home had suitable arrangements for PPE, testing, cleaning, hand hygiene and managing outbreaks.
“We were assured that the provider was using PPE effectively and safely.” from the report
Family contact
The home supported visits with appointments and safety measures. Staff also helped people stay in contact with relatives who could not visit.
“Some people's relatives were unable to visit so staff facilitated video and phone calls to keep them up to date and to give them the opportunity to see their loved ones.” from the report
Clean environment
The home was clean and had schedules showing routine and extra cleaning. Changes to flooring, toilets and lighting were made to support safety and reduce cross-contamination.
“The home was clean throughout.” from the report
Activities and wellbeing
The home increased activities during the pandemic, including arts and crafts, gardening and creating murals with people.
“The registered manager told us that throughout the pandemic increased focus had been placed on providing additional activities to support people's emotional wellbeing.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What infection control and outbreak arrangements are in place now, and what would happen if people or staff became infected?
- 02How can relatives visit now, and what support is available if someone cannot visit in person?
- 03What are the current staffing levels, and how often are agency staff used?
- 04How are people supported to keep in touch with relatives and take part in activities?
- 05When were the other areas of care last fully inspected, and what were their ratings?
This was an unannounced targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; it did not provide ratings for the other four key questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 15 March 2022 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
What inspectors found, August 2019
Rated Good; inspectors found kind, safe care and exceptionally strong activities, with a few improvements still in progress.
This was a planned inspection on 18 and 19 June 2019. One inspector and an Expert by Experience spoke with people, relatives, staff and a visiting GP. They observed care and checked care plans, medicines records, risk assessments, recruitment records and management checks.
People told inspectors they felt safe and were treated with kindness and respect. Staff were trained, staffing levels were suitable and medicines records were complete. People received appropriate food, drink and healthcare, and their care was planned around their needs and choices.
The home was rated Good overall. Safe, Effective, Caring and Well-led were all rated Good. Responsive was rated Outstanding because of the wide range of activities, community links and highly personalised support.
The overall rating remained Good from the previous comprehensive inspection in November 2016. The Responsive rating improved from Good to Outstanding.
Wide range of activities
People could join activities inside and outside the home, including trips, arts, music, games and exercise. Activities also included people who received care in bed.
“People were offered a wide range of activities to meet their needs.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People and relatives described staff as kind and caring. Inspectors saw staff protect people's dignity and support them discreetly with personal care.
“People told us staff were kind and caring and treated them well.” from the report
Good health support
Staff acted promptly when people's health changed and worked with GPs, dieticians, speech and language therapists and other professionals.
“Records showed that staff took timely action when people were ill.” from the report
Personalised choices
People were involved in planning their care and could make choices about food, routines, relationships, activities and how they were supported.
“People and their relatives had planned their care with staff, including how they preferred to be supported.” from the report
Strong management checks
Managers used audits, observations, meetings and feedback to monitor care and identify improvements. Staff said managers were supportive and approachable.
“The provider and management team completed regular checks and audits of the service and action had been taken to address any shortfalls found.” from the report
Medicines room temperatures
minorThe management team was reviewing the cooling arrangements for medicines rooms so temperatures stayed below 25 degrees Celsius in warmer weather. Ask whether this review has been completed.
“The management team were reviewing cooling systems for the medicines rooms to ensure that temperatures remained under 25 degrees Celsius when the weather became warmer.” from the report
Capacity assessments
minorThe report says the management team was working to improve assessments for people who may lack capacity to make particular decisions. Ask what changes were made.
“The management team were working to improve capacity assessments in the service.” from the report
Picture menu in development
minorA picture menu was being developed to help people with dementia make food choices. Ask whether it is now available and used consistently.
“We are working on producing a picture menu with head office to support people with dementia to make choices.” from the report
- 01How do you make sure medicines are kept below 25 degrees Celsius during hot weather?
- 02What improvements have you made to mental capacity assessments since the inspection?
- 03Which activities are available for people who prefer to stay in their rooms or receive care in bed?
- 04How do you make sure my relative's food choices, dietary needs and communication needs are recorded and followed?
- 05How are relatives told about changes in a person's health, care or end-of-life wishes?
This was a comprehensive inspection covering all five CQC questions, including the premises and the care provided; the previous rating was Good from November 2016. This explanation was written from the published report of 8 August 2019 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
Every inspection of Saxonwood
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- March 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- August 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Good
- December 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 21 January 2011.
Ratings and report dates from the Care Quality Commission, Open Government Licence v3.0. A home can also be visited without a new rating being published, so the timeline shows published inspections.
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19 live-in carers within about an hour of East Sussex
These are self-employed carers on PrimeCarers, the introductory agency that runs this directory. Each has a profile with their own rates and reviews from families, and you choose who to talk to.
Most charge £1,000 to £1,400 a week. 13 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“When he point blank refused to go into hospital for a life saving blood transfusion she talked him through the situation and agreed to go in the ambulance with him and stayed until he was settled.”
“Una felt safe, secure and loved in her time with Debbie which is a gift that I am eternally grateful for.”
Every carer has had an enhanced DBS check in the last 18 months, ID and right-to-work checks and an online interview. Their skills and training are for you to check with them. Carers set their own rates, and who is free changes week to week.