Be Caring Newcastle

Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also consider any wider social care provided.

The provider had a structured approach to quality assurance. However, this had not always been effective in chasing up issues with risk assessments. There was a lack of management oversight of the COVID-19 testing arrangements to provide the required reassurance that staff were testing in line with Government guidance. The provider was implementing systems to address this.

People and relatives gave mostly positive feedback about their care and praised the staff providing it. They told us they felt safe accessing the service. They also knew how to raise concerns, if required.

Safeguarding concerns were reported and investigated. Staff knew how to raise concerns and felt confident to do so. Incidents and accidents were also investigated and action taken as a result. Medicines were handled safely, and the provider had effective recruitment practices.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People's needs had been assessed and this formed a baseline for developing their care plans. Staff had access to regular supervision and relevant training. However, not all staff said they felt supported. Staff supported people to have enough to eat and drink and to attend healthcare appointments, when required.

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.

The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture.

Staff supported people to make choices and decisions about their care. People told us they were enabled to be as independent as possible. There were positive relationships between people and staff, with people confirming they were treated well and were involved in their care.