Care Quality Commission report: Care Outlook (New Larchwood)
Care Outlook (New Larchwood)
Date of assessment: 14th January - 18th February 2026. Rated 'Good' overall.
Care Outlook (New Larchwood) is a homecare service providing personal care to an extra care scheme where adults of all ages lived independently in their own flats. There were 38 flats in a purpose built building. At the time of this assessment, 29 people were receiving a regulated activity. This assessment was carried out as the service was newly registered and required rating.
The provider was registered to support autistic people and people with a learning disability. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) assessed the service against ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ guidance to make judgements about whether the provider could guarantee 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. Evidence and feedback demonstrated that the service met the needs of the people they supported.
However, the provider did not always have effective governance. Whilst it had not impacted the safety of people, the provider needed to strengthen some processes around pre-assessments, care plans and daily records.
Leaders had been open to feedback and taken immediate actions to make service improvements. This will take time to fully embed in practice. Despite the shortfalls identified, people received good care that met their needs and protected their rights.
Staff understood and managed risks; the service worked within the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and people were supported to have choice and control over their lives. People were involved in assessments of their needs. Care plans reflected people’s individual health, social and communication needs. Staff worked collaboratively with health and social care professionals to ensure continuity of care and positive outcomes.
Staff provided kind and compassionate care. They protected people’s privacy and dignity. Staff treated people as individuals and supported their preferences. Staff responded to people in a timely way. A registered manager was in place who knew the service, people and staff well.
The provider had a good learning culture and people could raise concerns. There was an open and transparent culture at the service and staff spoke positively about working there. The service had sufficient staff to support people, who were recruited safely and had the knowledge and training to meet people’s needs. Leaders worked with the local community and there was a culture of continuous improvement.
People's experience of the service
People told the CQC that they felt safe and were fully involved in planning their care. They spoke positively about staff being kind, helpful and listened to.
Comments included:
“Staff are a smashing bunch. You name it, they do it”
“I am very supported”
"The staff are very, very good. I find the staff team here are very nice.”
CQC observed how people were supported in communal areas effectively to engage in activities. They witnessed kind and meaningful interactions between staff and people, and those people had access to the care, support and treatment they needed when they needed it.
People told the CQC that they had choice and control over their lives. They were encouraged to maintain relationships with family and friends, and were given opportunities to feed back, and all felt comfortable in raising any concerns they had. They were confident these would be dealt with appropriately.