Sahara Lodge

Updated 24 June 2024

Sahara Lodge is a residential care home for people with learning disabilities and people who are autistic. An assessment has been undertaken of a specialist service that is used by autistic people or people with a learning disability. We completed the assessment visit on 8 July 2024. This was a planned assessment due to an aged rating. At the time of our assessment there were 7 people using the service. The service is on three separate levels with a large garden and is based within the local community. We spoke to family members and other professionals as well as the people receiving care and their staff team to seek views about the quality of care. We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability 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. We looked at 7 quality statements; Safeguarding; Involving people to manage risks; Safe and effective staffing; Assessing needs; Consent to care and treatment; Independence, choice and control; Equity in experiences and outcomes.

Updated 24 June 2024

People told us they were happy living here and felt safe. One person told us they knew who to talk to if they were concerned. A family member we spoke to told us they felt their family members were safe and staff were approachable. Right support: Care and treatment was planned and delivered in a way that kept people safe. The service was well staffed with people who were trained and who had been through appropriate recruitment checks. People had choice and control over their lives with only restrictive measures which kept them safe and was in their best interests. There were systems ensuring safe practices to manage risk whilst maximising independence. Right Care: The person centred care delivered ensured people’s human rights were upheld. Staff knowledge of people they supported ensured they received good quality care. People were supported to maintain all round healthy lives and the staff worked with many health professionals to maintain this. Right Culture: The values and attitudes of the managers and staff ensured that people were at the centre of their care. This approach allowed the people to live confident, inclusive and empowered lives within their local community.