Sandgate Manor

Updated 11 October 2025

Date of inspection: This assessment took place between 20 and 28 October 2025. We visited the service on 20 October 2025. We have assessed the service against ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ guidance to make judgements about whether the provider guaranteed people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted.

The service had continued to improve since our last inspection. However, there was still 2 breaches of the regulations in relation to good governance and person-centred care. The service was previously rated required improvement and has remained requires improvement.

Sandgate Manor is a care home which can provide support to up to 22 people. The service was home to 20 people at the time of the inspection. The service supports people who live with physical and or learning disabilities and autism. People lived in either the main building which was an adapted house or one of three single person lodges. Not everyone living at the service received a regulated activity.

There continued to be areas where records needed to be improved, and governance needed to lead to improvement in some areas. Actions taken were not always as clearly recorded as they needed to be. Some people’s care plans needed to be updated. However, staff knew how to support people safely. People’s communication care plans needed more information to support staff to learn about people’s needs. There were systems in place to manage and respond to complaints. However, some complaints could be better recorded to enable managers to review trends and patters and monitor any action taken.

However, staff had undertaken the training they needed and knew how to support people safely. There was enough staff to support people and staff recruitment was undertaken in a safe way.

People received their medicines as prescribed. The service was clean, and staff knew how to manage the risk from infection.People were protected from the risk of abuse as staff knew how to identify and report concerns. When incidents or accidents occurred, staff took appropriate action. People’s needs were assessed, and their wellbeing was monitored.

Staff and managers worked well together and with partners. People were referred to health and social care specialists when they needed this support.

Updated 11 October 2025

Not everyone who lived at the service communicated verbally. Some people used gestures or electronic forms of communication. Some people chose to communicate with us by email as this was their preferred method of communication.

People told us they were happy living at the service. One person said, “I love living here.” However, everyone acknowledged there was still some work to do. One relative told us, “It’s not perfect but it is improving.”

There was a positive atmosphere at the service between staff and people. Staff engaged with people frequently, offering choices and asking permission before providing people with support. Staff spoke to people in a kind and respectful way. They promoted people’s privacy and treated people as individuals. Staff responded to people when they needed support.

The support people received to promote their independence still needed some improvement. However, it was an improving picture. One relative told us, “Staff do involve [my relative] in tasks as far as possible and maximise their independence- such as social activities including going shopping for their own clothes, going bowling with other service users.” People were also engaged in more activities, but this still needed more development. People told us they felt safe and well supported by staff at the service.