North Tyneside Learning Disability Service

Updated 23 February 2022

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of CQC’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic we are looking at how services manage infection control and visiting arrangements. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection prevention and control measures the provider had in place. We also asked the provider about any staffing pressures the service was experiencing and whether this was having an impact on the service.

This inspection took place on 11 January 2022 and was announced. We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection, to ensure people living within the complex were aware we would be visiting the service.

Updated 23 February 2022

North Tyneside LD Service, Cedar Tree Court is a supported living service. People live in their own flats and are supported by staff in their day to day activities only when necessary, or when they request help. All the flats are accessed by a communal area, for which they have keys and access codes. Each person has a flat with their own front door and they come and go as they wish. People are responsible for maintaining their own flats and staff clean and maintain communal areas.

The service supports up to 13 people to live as independently as possible. At the time of the inspection there were 13 people living at the service but only one person was receiving support with personal care.

We found the following examples of good practice.

• Communal areas of the service were maintained in a clean and tidy manner.

• All staff had been fully vaccinated, and the provider carried out regular testing to ensure people and staff were kept safe.

• People were supported to make their own decisions about their health and wellbeing but were guided by staff to make them aware of the latest guidance and rules relating to the COVID-19 pandemic.