Newsletter – July 2026
3rd August 2026
Hello Everyone,
Welcome to the March edition of our staff newsletter! With the weather improving, it’s been great to see everyone out and about enjoying the brighter days. This month has been filled with exciting activities and positive stories from our service users. We’ve witnessed incredible progress, unforgettable trips, and new experiences that have made a real impact. Here are some of the highlights to share with you.
Denmark Street
At Denmark Street, Ron and Ed had a fantastic time making a chocolate and strawberry cheesecake with their keyworker Emma. They were thrilled to serve it for dessert, and it was enjoyed by both residents and staff alike! You really need to come visit Denmark Street to see all the fun we’re having!
In addition, we celebrated St. Patrick’s Day with lots of fun and festive activities. We hope everyone had a great time!
Ed had a fantastic overnight trip to Scarborough with the staff! He was thrilled to have the opportunity to sit in the driver’s seat and quickly made friends with the driver. Ed had a great time enjoying an ice cream by the beach and riding the tram. He also had fun playing bingo, watching the surfers, and even won a round of crazy golf against Ellen!
Whitley Bay Getaway
Craig enjoyed a relaxing week-long holiday in Whitley Bay with his keyworker Ian. From scones and cuppas to evening entertainment, Craig is making the most of the beautiful weather and enjoying some well-deserved downtime along the promenade.
Brandon’s Beamish Adventure
As the weather improves and spring begins to bloom, our very own Brandon took advantage of the sunny days by visiting the renowned Beamish Museum.
Brandon’s day at the museum included a fascinating journey down the mine. This immersive experience took him underground, where he could get a first hand look at what it was like to work in the coal mines during the industrial era. The sights, sounds, and even the atmosphere of the mine gave Brandon a deeper understanding of the hardships miners faced in the past.
After exploring the depths of history, Brandon treated himself to a classic British delight at Beamish’s traditional fish and chip shop.
Carolyn’s Day Trip Plans
Exciting Day Trip to Flamingo Land
Carolyn is thrilled to announce they’ve organized a fun-filled day trip to Flamingo Land for our service users from Ravenscroft and South Hill! The excitement is building as everyone eagerly looks forward to this adventure. With thrilling rides, animal encounters, and plenty of attractions to explore, it promises to be a day full of laughter, memories, and new experiences.
We can’t wait to hear all about the fun and excitement from our group after the trip—stay tuned for updates!
Service User Stories:
Kylie and service user Kate excited for Kate’s weekly shopping trip. Kate’s face says it all she’s thrilled! 
Chris has been a fantastic support to Erin as she transitions into Ashdown Care. Together, they’ve been working on arts and crafts at the Argle Hub.
Paige was over the moon to make her “fakeaway” pizza with her staff, learning new skills along the way! 
Adam’s Adventures Across the North East
Adam has been having his own set of exciting adventures around the North East! He recently visited the Sunderland Football Fans Museum, where he enjoyed exploring the rich history of the club. Adam spent time looking at old football memorabilia, including photos, football strips from past seasons, and historic programmes from Roker Park—an experience that was a true walk down memory lane.
In addition to his visit to the museum, Adam had a lovely day trip to Redcar. He enjoyed a peaceful walk along the seafront, took in the fresh air, and wandered through the market. A highlight of his day was exploring the local high street shops before treating himself to a delicious fish and chips dinner—definitely a perfect end to his day out!
Adam has also explored other amazing places in the North East, including Rothbury, Ousburn Farm, and the iconic Penshaw Monument. He loves discovering new places and enjoys riding on local buses and trains to get there. Adam’s adventures around the region continue to inspire his love for exploring, and we’re looking forward to hearing about even more of his journeys.
Peter Enjoying some of his favourite activities, now the weather is improving including walks to the shop and visits to the library.
Colin enjoyed Cheltenham Horse Racing week, and enjoyed going to the betting shop to put his bets on and going for a pint in the pub to watch the races.
Awards and Achievements
John Knox
Proudly earned two prestigious awards from Ocean Choice—one for completing a project on Ernest Shackleton’s Antarctic voyage and another for studying Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations. Well done, John!
Chris Dosh
Attended a fantastic night out at the Customs House in South Shields, where he saw a tribute to Queen. Chris is already looking forward to his next show!
Scott
During a recent MDT meeting, Scott’s school tutors shared outstanding feedback on his progress since returning in September 2024. They praised his exceptional behaviour, growing confidence, and active engagement in both academics and extracurricular activities.
Scott has been participating in basketball and football clubs, excelling in Maths and English, and demonstrating strong self-regulation skills. He is working well with his peers, forming new friendships, and there is a promising opportunity for him to join a classroom setting with his classmates. Additionally, he is preparing to take part in community activities with school staff in the near future.
Scott also took part in Black and White Day, proudly celebrating Newcastle United’s achievement of reaching Wembley—a fantastic moment for him to share with his peers.
This is an incredible achievement, and a huge well done to Scott for his hard work and progress! 🎉
Compliments
We’ve received some lovely feedback this month:
Willow
Erin Harbertson, a new service user at Willow, has received high praise from her parents. They’ve noted how well the staff have been working with Erin, and she’s already becoming an integral part of the Ashdown family. She even had a fantastic time at St Mary’s Friday game night, where she was welcomed by other service users and enjoyed a homemade meal. Erin’s social circle is widening, and we couldn’t be more pleased!
10 Tynevale
Compliment From Pauls’ RIO Simon Gray. “I am really impressed with Tynevale so far. Their care of the local authority’s young person, PB, has been really excellent to date. They worked hard to help him transition into their care and it is clear that he views it as his home and understands and accepts the support available from staff. Their work is centred around him, and one consequence of that so far has been a gradual increase in his educational engagement.
Tynevale feels like a home. I think that this is really important for the young people who end up living in residential placements.
They recently sent me two update reports about him, and I was blown away by them – they were done as ‘newspaper style’ reports, really glossy, with photos and written narratively to him. This was some of the most child-centred work completed towards this end by a residential placement that I have seen.
I have no concerns currently, or any action points for them. Just to keep it up!”
10 Tynevale
“The staff at Tynevale are absolutely excellent. They have supported Paul in overcoming longstanding anxieties, helped him return to full-time education, and encouraged him to join community-based activities. He feels safe and secure in their care, and I couldn’t ask for a better care package for him.” – Paul’s family
Staff Recognition and Shoutouts
10 Tynevale
I wanted to give a big shout out to all my staff members at 10 Tynevale. We have had some amazing feedback over the last few months from different professionals in relation to the progress Paul has made in a very short time.
Your passion, dedication and hard work has truly paid off. Paul is thriving in every area with a huge decrease in risks, he is attending education, rebuilding his relationship with family members, doing football coaching and experiencing some amazing events this is all down to you all working as a team and being consistent, listening, learning and reflecting to develop yourselves and better Paul’s future. You have all jumped headfirst into training and imbedding this in your practice, stuck together through tougher times but most importantly never gave up which is evident with Paul’s progress. I couldn’t be any prouder of you all as I am right now, you are truly all a pleasure to lead and work with. Keep up the amazing work.
Castle View
Big shout-out to Louise at Castle View for her positive influence on Georgia! Over the past couple of weeks, Louise has been taking Georgia on various outings, including trips to South Shields swimming pool and the Blaydon fairground. These trips have had a significant impact on Georgia’s mood and mental health, and it’s clear she thrives with days out. Keep up the great work, Louise!
Gary’s Section
Thought of the Month
“Stiffness is a companion of death, flexibility a companion of life. An army that cannot yield will be defeated. A tree that cannot bend will crack in the wind.” – Lao Tzu
My father was a boxer, and he always told me, “You have to roll with the punches.” In life, as in the ring, if you stand rigid and refuse to adapt, you’ll take hit after hit until you’re knocked down. But if you stay flexible, learn to move, and adjust to the situation, you’ll stay standing.
At work, in relationships, and in life, flexibility is key. Listening to others, appreciating different perspectives, and being open to change doesn’t mean weakness—it’s a sign of strength. Our values of Always Work as a Team and Education and Reflection remind us that adapting, learning, and growing together are what make us successful.
When challenges arise, don’t resist—adapt. When opinions differ, don’t shut down—listen. When plans change, don’t panic—adjust. True strength isn’t in standing firm no matter what, but in knowing when to bend, move, and grow.
March 2025 Care Sector Updates: Key Regulatory Changes and Legal Insights
🏡 Adult Social Care (CQC Registered Services)
1. CQC Rolls Out New Single Assessment Framework
Effective March 2025, the CQC has formally launched its Single Assessment Framework for all health and social care providers, including domiciliary care services.
This framework replaces previous inspection models and introduces dynamic, ongoing assessments rather than periodic inspections.
Emphasis is placed on quality statements, evidence categories, and the voice of people using services.
Providers must now ensure data readiness, quality evidence collation, and robust digital engagement with the CQC portal.
Key Action: Review and align your Quality Assurance processes with the six core evidence categories (People’s experience, Feedback, Processes, Outcomes, Observations, and Environment).
🧒 Children’s Residential Care (Ofsted Registered Services)
1. New Ofsted Guidance on Substance Misuse
Published March 2025, Ofsted has released updated guidance aimed at improving the response of children’s homes to substance misuse concerns.
Homes are now expected to show how staff are trained to recognise and respond to drug-related issues, including early intervention, working with external agencies, and ensuring safety within the home.
This forms part of a wider push for trauma-informed care and safeguarding measures.
2. Ofsted Annual Report 2023/24 – Priorities Going Forward
Amanda Spielman’s speech launching the Annual Report reinforced the need for:
Improved staff retention and wellbeing
Clearer accountability in leadership
Focus on children with complex needs, especially those placed out-of-area or with high-risk behaviours.
Key Action: Ensure policies on substance misuse are up-to-date and include staff training and clear multi-agency escalation routes.
⚖️ Legal and Regulatory Watch (HCR Law Highlights)
1. Recruitment and Retention – Employment Law in Focus
With continued recruitment challenges in care, HCR Law emphasises the importance of:
Legally sound retention bonuses and incentive structures
Careful drafting of employment contracts to include clauses on training repayment, safeguarding obligations, and notice periods.
2. Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) Reform Still Delayed
Though Liberty Protection Safeguards (LPS) were due to replace DoLS, there’s still no confirmed implementation date.
Providers should maintain current DoLS best practices while preparing for eventual LPS introduction.
Thank you to everyone for your hard work, dedication, and positive impact on the lives of our service users. Let’s keep up the great work as we head into spring!
Suggestions Link: https://forms.office.com/e/AZiGxgXsM7
A new suggestions link is now available for staff and service users.
Concerns form: https://forms.office.com/e/6CVAYSt9av
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Kind regards,
Ashdown Care
3rd August 2026
3rd July 2026
31st May 2026