- Homecare service
Northumberland Supported Living Service
Assessment report published 21 July 2026
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
Date of Inspection: 8 to 26 June 2026. Northumberland Supported Living Service provides care and support for people with a learning disability and autistic people living in a 'supported living' setting. At the time of this inspection 2 people were using the service. We completed this inspection as part of our routine programme.
We inspected 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 they met this guidance. Northumberland Supported Living Service provides a highly personalised care service, which was designed to meet people’s needs in the least restrictive manner.
Feedback from people and relatives was overwhelmingly positive. Relatives consistently told us they felt confident in staff, described care as person‑centred and responsive, and felt people were supported by staff who knew them well and went the extra mile to meet their needs. People felt protected from abuse and avoidable harm, and risks were generally identified and managed well, with appropriate involvement of health and social care professionals when people’s needs changed.
During this inspection we found a deeply embedded culture of kindness, safety, professionalism and continuous improvement, which was consistently modelled by leaders, embraced by staff and experienced by people using the service. This was particularly evident in how people are supported to achieve meaningful outcomes and improve their quality of life. People enjoyed a rich programme of activities and were supported to maintain relationships, interests and community connections. Staff worked with people to develop creative and innovative approaches to meaningful activity such as using social media platforms to remain in contact with families.
People consistently experienced, person-centred, flexible and responsive care. Staff knew people extremely well and had a detailed understanding of people’s individual needs, communication styles and preferences, which supported them to tailor care effectively and respond to changes promptly. People were supported to achieve significant milestones, such as increased independence, developing daily living skills and engaging in community activities, which had a positive impact on their confidence and wellbeing.
There was strong evidence of improved outcomes over time, including reductions in incidents and behaviours of concern, linked to consistent staffing, effective care planning and the use of positive behaviour support approaches. People’s health and wellbeing were promoted through proactive, evidence-based care, with effective multi-disciplinary teamwork, which ensured timely access to healthcare and specialist input. Professionals praised the strong relationships they observed between staff, people and families.
The management team had developed a strong and embedded learning culture. They ensured incidents were reviewed, and learning was used to drive improvements in practice. Staff were supported through training, supervision and reflective practice, which contributed to a stable workforce and consistent care delivery. The registered manager was visible, values-driven and promoted an open and inclusive culture, where staff felt able to raise concerns and contribute to service development. Evidence showed the service had achieved sustained improvements and continued to strive for high-quality, personalised care.
People's experience of this service
People were overwhelmingly positive about their experience of support provided by Northumberland Supported Living Service. Relatives told us the care had led to significant improvements in their loved one’s confidence, communication and overall quality of life. One relative said, “I really believe the staff have the best interests of [person’s name] at heart and they have our complete trust. One member of staff who reached retirement age came back part-time on the Bank, they told me it was because they loved [person’s name] and missed them. What more could you ask for and as a family we have felt so fortunate in the care [person’s name] has received at Sea Lodge.”
Some people were unable to share their views verbally, so we used structured observation to understand their experience. During the inspection we saw relaxed, warm interactions between staff and people. Staff consistently spoke with people in a warm and unrushed way. They offered reassurance when people appeared disorientated or distressed and had a depth of knowledge about them, which they used when supporting people. People were supported in ways that promoted dignity, respect and independence.
People experienced personalised care that reflected their individual needs, preferences and communication styles. Staff understood people well, including how they communicated non‑verbally, and adapted their approach to ensure people were involved in decisions about their care as much as possible. People were supported to develop independence, build relationships and take part in activities in their local communities, which improved their confidence and wellbeing.
People benefited from consistent staffing and strong relationships with staff who knew them well. This helped people feel comfortable and supported. Staff responded promptly to changes in people’s needs and worked closely with health and social care professionals to ensure people received the right support at the right time. Relatives said they felt involved in decisions and valued the opportunities to contribute to care planning and wider service development. Staff regularly reviewed care with people and professionals to ensure support remained responsive to changing needs.
Staff supported people in ways that upheld dignity, choice and independence. People appeared comfortable in the presence of staff, and we saw many examples of warm, respectful care. People experienced care that supported their rights, independence and quality of life, in line with the principles of right support, right care, right culture.