New Beginnings North East Ltd

On this page

• Overview
• Learning culture
• Safe systems, pathways and transitions
• Safeguarding
• Involving people to manage risks
• Safe environments
• Safe and effective staffing
• Infection prevention and control
• Medicines optimisation

Safe – this means we looked for evidence that people were protected from abuse and avoidable harm.

At our last assessment we rated this key question good. At this assessment the rating has remained good. This meant people were safe and protected from avoidable harm.

This service scored 75 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

We did not look at Learning culture during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

We did not look at Safe systems, pathways and transitions during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

The provider worked with people and healthcare partners to understand what being safe meant to them and the best way to achieve that. Staff concentrated on improving people’s lives while protecting their right to live in safety, free from bullying, harassment, abuse, discrimination, avoidable harm and neglect. The provider shared concerns quickly and appropriately.

Staff had completed safeguarding training and were confident any concerns raised would be dealt with appropriately. A staff member told us, “The company offer an open-door policy and anyone who feels they need to raise a concern can do so with anyone they are comfortable with.”

Concerns were investigated and any learning points were cascaded to all staff. A registered manager demonstrated a keen interest in safeguarding. They were a member of a local authority safeguarding improvement practise committee, looking to develop new initiatives.

The provider worked with people to understand and manage risks by thinking holistically. Staff provided care to meet people’s needs that was safe, supportive and enabled people to do the things that mattered to them.

Risks associated with people’s care and support were identified and managed to keep people safe. Risk assessments relating to people's specific health conditions, such as epilepsy were in place. These outlined how staff were to support people to protect them from avoidable harm and ensured the person was able to maintain their independence and dignity.

Staff supported people to actively take control of their lives with positive risk taking, to achieve set goals. The registered manager told us about how staff supported a person to overcome a negative situation. An overseas holiday was deemed too risky, staff supported the person slowly, building up the length of travelling time on shorter flights until the person was happy and comfortable to experience the long flight to their holiday.

Staff received training in the use of positive behaviour support (PBS). This is a person-centred framework for providing support to people with a learning disability, and/or autism, including those with mental health conditions, who have, or may be at risk of developing, behaviours ofdistress. A visiting professional told us, “I remember a visit whereby one person was having an episode of shouting and swearing and staff remained really calm, talked to them, offered solutions to them and de-escalated the situation really quickly, with the person ending up laughing and having a cup of tea in the end.”

We did not look at Safe environments during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

The provider made sure there were enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff, who received effective support, supervision and development. They worked together well to provide safe care that met people’s individual needs.

People took part in interviews and helped recruit staff. The service used a holistic approach when placing staff with people. For example, looking for staff similar to the person’s own age, gender and looking to match with common interests and activities. Staff undertook transitional work with new people so they could build a relationship before they joined the service.

The service did not always complete the required DBS checks when staff were needed to start work prior to the return of an Enhanced DBS check. The provider immediately addressed this matter during the inspection and additional documentation was implemented to improve staff onboarding. All other required recruitment checks, including obtaining references from previous employers had been conducted.

Staff completed a structured training programme developed around people’s care and support needs.

We did not look at Infection prevention and control during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

We did not look at Medicines optimisation during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.