- Homecare service
Walsingham Support - Supported Living Doncaster
Assessment report published 5 November 2025
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
Date of assessment: 1 September to 10 October 2025. Walsingham Support – Supported Living Doncaster is a supported living service providing personal care and support to adults of all ages with learning disabilities and/or autistic people. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. Where they do, we also consider any wider social care provided. At the time of this assessment there were 32 people receiving care and support. As part of this assessment of the service, we reviewed all key questions and quality statements. 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 most people take for granted. We were assured the service provided care in line with this guidance.
Accidents and incidents were reported and analysed. Lessons were learnt to continually identify and embed good practice. The provider made sure there was continuity of care, including when people moved between different services and there was good use of health passports. The provider shared safety concerns quickly and appropriately. Members of staff knew how to report concerns about safety and felt confident to do so. Risks were assessed appropriately and care met people's needs and enabled them to do the things which mattered to them. The provider made sure there were enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff, who received effective support, supervision and development. There were safe systems and processes in place to manage the administration of medicines.
People's care plans were clear and well-set out. Their needs were clearly identified and assessed. The provider always planned and delivered people’s care and treatment with them, including what was important and mattered to them. People were supported to manage their health and wellbeing to maximise their independence, choice and control. People’s care and treatment was regularly monitored to continuously improve it. People were told about their rights around consent and these rights were respected when person-centred care was delivered.
Staff were kind and caring. They delivered care with dignity and respect. The provider treated people as individuals and made sure people’s care, support and treatment met their needs and preferences. The provider promoted people’s independence, so people knew their rights and had choice and control over their own care, treatment and wellbeing. The provider cared about and promoted the wellbeing of their staff and supported and enabled them to deliver person-centred care.
Care and support was person-centred. The provider made sure people were at the centre of their care and treatment choices and they decided, in partnership with people, how to respond to any relevant changes in people’s needs. The provider supplied appropriate, accurate and up-to-date information in formats tailored to individual needs. The provider made it easy for people to share feedback and ideas, or raise complaints about their care, treatment and support. Staff involved people in decisions about their care and told them what had changed as a result. People were supported to plan for important life changes, so they could have enough time to make informed decisions about their future, including at the end of their life.
The provider had a shared vision, strategy and culture. This was based on transparency, equity, equality and human rights, diversity and inclusion, engagement, and understanding challenges and the needs of people and their communities. Leaders and the management team had the skills, knowledge, experience and credibility to lead effectively. They did so with integrity, openness and honesty. The provider valued diversity in their workforce. They worked towards an inclusive and fair culture by improving equality and equity for people who worked for them. The provider had clear responsibilities, roles, systems of accountability and good governance. They used these to manage and deliver good quality, sustainable care, treatment and support. The provider focused on continuous learning, innovation and improvement across the organisation and local system.
People's experience of this service
When we visited people in their homes, we saw they were happy and safe with their staff teams. People told us they could talk to members of staff or members of the management team if they had any concerns. We spoke with people’s families and received positive feedback about the service, the staff teams and members of the management team. Comments included, “Staff are absolutely fantastic people and [family member] is 100% safe.”, “[Family member’s] home is beautiful and safe.”, “[Family member’s] home is all set up for them and their room is beautiful with lots of family photos and their own things. They receive amazing care and their life is as good as it can be.”
Relatives confirmed their family members’ needs were met by the provider and the staff teams. Comments included, “Members of staff cater to their every whim; I cannot tell you how good they are. If they want a cup of tea they just point to their cup and members of staff know what they want”, “They take [family member] to all their medical appointments and if its anything major, they consult with us.”, “[Family member] gets nutritious foods and supplements.”
People and their relatives told us members of staff were kind and caring. Comments included, “My [family member] has their own car and goes out on lots of visits; members of staff always make an effort.”, “Everyone is remembered and there are shows on birthdays and Christmas.”, “Members of staff really treat people with respect and show they care every day.”
Family members were happy with the leadership and management throughout the service. Comments included, “The management team are wonderful and members of staff are well trained. I can ask the management team anything. The organisation is all about the people.”, “The management team is really good…chuffing hell I cannot remember all their names, but they are really good.”, “[Family member] has a good rapport with staff and the managers. Member of staff are well trained and they understand [family member’s] physical and emotional needs.”