We carried out a review of the data available to us about New Dawn on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about New Dawn, you can give feedback on this service.
New Dawn is a residential care home providing personal care and support to up to 19 people with a learning disability and or autistic people. At the time of our inspection there were 15 people using the service. The service consisted of single storey accommodation, with shared communal spaces and bathing facilities. There was also one person who had a self-contained apartment, with their own allocated staff team.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.
Right support: The standards of care provided, gave people choice and control over their own care and lifestyles. This was supported by consistent levels of staff available to meet people’s assessed needs and risks to enable people to be active members of the local community. People lived in a clean and comfortable care environment. Whilst we identified some areas of improvement needed for people’s medicines management, and have made a recommendation, we were assured by the action taken by the registered manager in response to our feedback.
Right care: Care records reflected people and their relative’s involvement in their development with their individual wishes and preferences being consistently reflected. People’s dignity, privacy and human rights were being upheld. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives, although a recommendation has been made to ensure key decisions are documented. Staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. Staff training and competency checks ensured they had the necessary skills, knowledge and expertise to safely meet people’s needs.
Right culture: There was consistent leadership of the service, due to there being a long-standing registered manager in place. The registered manager led the service by example, giving the staff clear expectations of the standards they were to uphold. People were empowered to lead meaningful lives and be part of their local community.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection and update
This service was registered with us on 01 December 2020 and this is the first inspection. The last rating for the service under the previous provider was Good, published on 26 March 2019.
Why we inspected
The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about the provider level oversight of this service, and in response to some incidents that had happened. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks.
We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.
People were supported to maintain regular contact with their relatives; including through face to face visits. There were regular visits from members of the local church who were due to participate in a memorial service at the home.
The level of inhouse activities had increased during the national lockdowns, and during the recent COVID-19 outbreak to prevent people from feeling socially isolated.
The home was visibly clean throughout, with no malodours present. There was an ongoing refurbishment plan in place, with many bedrooms having new flooring and furniture to enhance the condition of the care environment.
Staff had close working relationships with the GP practice, who maintained contact with the home during their recent COVID-19 outbreak to monitor the needs of each person.