- Homecare service
Disability Supported Accommodation Service North Network
Assessment report published 9 September 2025
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
The assessment began on 15 July 2025 and concluded on 12 August 2025.
Disability Supported Accommodation Service North is a supported living service providing personal care to people in supported living accommodation. At the time of the assessment the service was supporting 58 people with personal care needs. This assessment was prompted by the age of the current rating, and we looked at all 33 quality statements across the 5 key questions. The service has been rated good, and we did not identify any breaches of regulation.
We assessed this service using the principles of Right Support, Right Care, Right Culture, which guide our approach to inspecting services for autistic people and people with a learning disability. The service was designed to promote independence, choice, and inclusion. Care was person-centred and focused on supporting people to live meaningful lives in their community. Staff demonstrated values and behaviours that upheld people’s dignity and human rights, and the leadership team fostered a culture of respect, empowerment, and continuous improvement.
People and their relatives spoke positively about the support provided, describing staff as kind, respectful, and committed to meeting individual needs. Care was person-centred and tailored to promote independence, choice, and inclusion. Staff supported people to live meaningful lives within their communities, encouraging participation in daily activities and decision-making.
Staff demonstrated values and behaviours that upheld people’s dignity and human rights. They understood their responsibilities in safeguarding people from abuse and neglect and were confident in raising concerns. Care delivery respected people’s preferences, and assessments of mental capacity were carried out appropriately. Where restrictions were in place, these were proportionate, clearly documented, and reflected the least restrictive option in line with legal frameworks and human rights principles.
Staff reported that training was accessible, relevant to their roles, and supported by alerts for upcoming refresher sessions. At the time of the assessment, the service was transitioning to a new system for monitoring training compliance. While this had led to delays in some refresher training, all required sessions had been booked during our visit, and staff remained confident in their knowledge and skills.
Infection prevention and control (IPC) measures were well managed across the service. Cleaning schedules and logs were embedded, and regular PPE stock checks ensured appropriate levels were maintained in each property. The properties were accessible, well maintained, and supported by robust fire safety checks and audits, including Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs).
Medicines were administered safely by staff in most cases. However, record keeping did not consistently support best practice. Some opportunities to improve outcomes through medication reviews were missed due to incomplete or unclear documentation. The service had begun addressing this during the assessment.
The service was well-led, with a visible and approachable leadership team that staff and people spoke positively about. Leaders fostered a culture of respect, and empowerment, where staff felt confident to speak up and raise concerns. Key information was shared effectively across teams. The service worked in partnership with external organisations to improve outcomes for people. However, performance data analysis lacked context and did not always support targeted improvements. The leadership team had begun making changes in response to feedback received during the assessment.
People's experience of this service
We spoke with 7 people and 9 relatives about their experiences of the service.
People told us they felt safe, respected, and well supported by staff who knew them well. They described positive and trusting relationships with staff, many of whom had supported them for a long time. People were encouraged to make their own choices and maintain as much independence as possible. Care was tailored to individual needs and preferences, and people were involved in planning their own support.
People enjoyed a range of meaningful activities and were supported to stay connected with their communities, relatives, and friends. Relatives spoke positively about the service, highlighting the open communication and welcoming environment. They felt involved and valued as partners in care.
People told us they were listened to and felt confident raising concerns. Staff promoted a culture of dignity, inclusion, and empowerment, supporting people to live fulfilling and independent lives.