- Care home
Newhaven Care
Assessment report published 23 June 2026
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
This assessment was undertaken on site on 7 and 8 April 2026 with documentation reviewed off site. Newhaven Care is a residential service providing support for up to 14 adults with a learning disability or autistic people, at the time of assessment 11 people were using the service.
We undertook this assessment due to the provider holding an aged rating; this was a scheduled assessment.
We 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. We found people received care and support in accordance with this guidance.
People were supported in a way that promoted their rights, individuality, and involvement in decisions about their care. Staff knew people well and provided personalised support that reflected their needs, preferences and communication styles. People were supported to maintain relationships, access the community, and participate in activities that were meaningful to them, supporting independence and inclusion.
The provider had a positive culture where people and staff felt able to speak up and were listened to. There was evidence of partnership working with healthcare professionals and external agencies to support coordinated care. Staff were kind, compassionate, and respectful, and interactions observed were positive and person-centred.
We used observation tools such as short observational framework for inspection (SOFI), which is a tool developed with the University of Bradford’s School of Dementia Studies and used by our inspectors to capture the experiences of people who used services who may not be able to express this for themselves.
We used the quality-of-life tool. The primary purpose of the quality-of-life tool is to improve the Care Quality Commission’s ability to consistently identify and take appropriate regulatory action in services that fail or are failing to meet the needs, aspirations and skills development of people with a learning disability and/or autistic people. The tool looked at how well people's care plans were delivered in practice. We found that the provider was meeting the needs, aspirations and skill development for people in practice and in line with their care plans.
Governance systems were effective in identifying and addressing shortfalls across key areas including, care plan reviewing processes, infection prevention and control, Mental Capacity Act compliance and record keeping. However, we found shortfalls in the governance processes for medicines management. environmental safety and equipment checks.
People's experience of this service
People were positive about living at the service and consistently described feeling safe, supported and comfortable in their day-to-day lives. People told us they experienced care which was personalised, responsive and delivered by staff who knew them well. One person told us, “It’s lovely here” and another person said, “I like it here,” reflecting a generally positive experience.
People expressed confidence in staff and the support they received, with one person saying, “I feel safe here” and another stating, “Staff know what I need and they help me.” This demonstrated that people felt understood and appropriately supported in meeting their needs.
People told us they were supported to maintain independence, make choices and access the community, which contributed to their overall wellbeing. Staff were observed and described by people as responsive to people’s immediate needs, including recognising changes in presentation or distress and acting promptly to provide reassurance or escalate concerns where required. This helped ensure people felt listened to and supported in the moment.
Relatives were equally positive about the service and the care provided to their family members. They described the service as welcoming and spoke highly of staff and the overall environment. A relative told us, “It’s very welcoming here. The staff are lovely,” reflecting a positive atmosphere within the home. Relatives expressed confidence in the consistency of care and their ability to visit flexibly, with one stating, “I just turn up randomly and it’s always good.”
Relatives reported positive outcomes for their family members, particularly in relation to emotional wellbeing and presentation. One relative told us, “Whenever I come, [Person] always comes across as happy.” This was consistent with wider feedback that relationships between staff and people were positive, respectful and based on familiarity and understanding.
Overall, feedback from people and relatives demonstrated a positive lived experience. People benefited from safe, person-centred care delivered in a welcoming environment where staff were knowledgeable about their needs, supported independence and promoted emotional wellbeing through consistent and responsive support.