- Care home
Sea Breeze
Assessment report published 14 July 2026
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
Date of assessment 5 May 2026 to 21 May 2026. Sea Breeze is a residential care home for autistic people and people with a learning disability. We assessed the service against ‘Right support, right care, right culture’(RSRCRC) 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 was exceptional at treating people with kindness, empathy and compassion. People were supported by managers and staff who demonstrated a strong culture of compassionate, person-centred care based on people’s individual needs. Care and support were highly personalised, and staff demonstrated exceptional knowledge of people’s individual needs, communication styles and preferences. We observed warm, compassionate and engaging interactions, and people appeared relaxed, happy and emotionally secure. Staff consistently involved people in decisions and respected their choices, adapting their approach to ensure meaningful engagement. Feedback from relatives and professionals was overwhelmingly positive about the caring and inclusive culture.
People received safe, effective and person-centred care from a consistent and well-trained staff team. People felt safe and comfortable in their home. Staff understood risks and managed these well, supporting people to live fulfilling lives while maintaining safety. There were sufficient staff to meet people’s needs, and recruitment and training processes ensured staff were skilled and supported. The environment was clean, well maintained and adapted to meet people’s needs, including sensory spaces that enhanced people’s wellbeing.
Leaders were visible, approachable and promoted a strong person-centred culture. The registered manager and management team promoted an extremely positive and inclusive culture where person-centred care was at the heart of their ethos. The managers and staff supported positive risk-taking and continuity of support which was under pinned by comprehensive care documents which included detailed communication plans and hospital passports. Governance systems were effective in monitoring quality and driving improvement. The registered manager demonstrated a clear vision and values, embedding RSRCRC principles into improvement plans. Lessons were learned from incidents and shared with staff to improve practice. The service demonstrated a positive, open culture where people, staff and relatives were valued and involved, and where high-quality, compassionate care was consistently delivered.
People's experience of this service
Some people could not directly tell us about their experience. We used a structured observation tool to assess whether they received good care. This approach showed people were included and listened to and staff consistently interacted positively with them, ensuring they used people’s specific methods of communicating. Observations showed warm, compassionate and joyful interactions, with staff engaging people through humour, music and personalised approaches, which helped people feel reassured and valued. We saw very positive engagement and good rapport between staff and people. Staff demonstrated a high level of skill in recognising subtle changes in people’s communication and body language, enabling them to anticipate needs and respond proactively. This resulted in highly personalised support that was consistently responsive, respectful and tailored to each person’s individual preferences and choices. Feedback from relatives was overwhelmingly positive about the caring and inclusive environment, with one relative telling us, “Staff are very kind and caring, lovely all of them, totally dedicated, amazing.”
People were supported by staff who knew them exceptionally well and adapted their approach to meet individual communication needs. Where people were unable to communicate verbally, staff used observation tools and communication methods such as Makaton to ensure their views were understood. People had meaningful opportunities to make choices and maintain independence. Staff supported people to take part in activities that mattered to them, including holidays, community outings and daily tasks within the home. We observed staff offering choices in accessible ways and respecting decisions, including when people chose not to participate.
People’s health and wellbeing were promoted through personalised care, including support with meals, activities and healthcare. People were involved in meal planning and encouraged to make choices about food. The environment, including sensory spaces, supported people’s comfort and engagement.
People and their relatives felt able to raise concerns and were confident these would be acted on. One relative told us, “I am able to raise queries or concerns with the registered manager and staff, and they are acted on and dealt with.”
People experienced a calm, inclusive and highly person-centred environment where they were supported to feel safe, listened to and valued, and where staff consistently promoted wellbeing, dignity and meaningful engagement.