We carried out a review of the data available to us about Link-Ability 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 Link-Ability, you can give feedback on this service.
The inspection visit took place on 22 March and 05 April 2018 and was announced.
Link-Ability is registered to provide personal care and support for people living with a learning disability or autistic spectrum disorder. Support is provided in people's own homes and can range from 24 hour care to an agreed number of hours on a weekly basis. This service provides care and support to people living in 15 ‘supported living’ settings, so that they can live in their own home as independently as possible. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. The Care Quality Commission does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support. At the time of the visit there were 27 people who used the service.
At the last inspection in April 2015 the service was rated 'Good' with outstanding in responsive and was meeting the regulatory requirements relevant at that time. At this inspection in March and April 2018 we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and the service had successfully retained an outstanding rating in responsive. There was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.
We received extremely positive feedback from relatives regarding the responsiveness of the staff their attitude and exceptional commitment to people they supported. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
Care plans demonstrated a holistic, excellent and exceptionally person centred approach aimed at maximising people's independence and choice. People who received support, or where appropriate their relatives, were involved in decisions and consented to their care.
There was an exceptional drive to maximise people’s independence and significant efforts to promote social inclusion. This was supported by a highly motivated staff team that took a positive risk taking and person centred approach to their role. Feedback and comments from people was extremely positive.
The registered manager had systems in place to record safeguarding concerns, accidents and incidents and take appropriate action when required. Recruitment checks were carried out to ensure suitable people were employed to work at the service.
Staff skills, knowledge, training and support demonstrated a commitment to providing outstanding care which was embedded into the practices of the staff and the management team. The service put people's views at the forefront of the service and designed the service around their needs.
Risk assessments had been developed to minimise the potential risk of harm to people who used the service. These had been kept under review and were relevant to the care and support people required.
Staff responsible for assisting people with their medicines had received training to ensure they had the competency and skills required. However, improvements were required to the medicines management practices.
We found people had been assisted to have access to healthcare professionals and their healthcare needs were met.
We received mixed feedback from people and care staff regarding staffing levels in the service. However, we saw actions had been taken to rectify the concerns and staff recruitment was ongoing.
People who used the service and their relatives, knew how to raise a concern or to make a complaint. The complaints procedure was available and people said they were encouraged to raise concerns.
The registered manager and the nominated individual used a variety of methods to assess and monitor the quality of service provided to people. These included regular internal audits of the service, staff and people’s forums to seek the views of people about the quality of care being provided.
LinkAbility Charity Limited is a none profit making organisation that supports people who have a learning disability. Support is provided in people's own homes and can range from 24 hour care to an agreed number of hours on a weekly basis.
Support is provided to assist people in their everyday lives, in areas such as personal care, household tasks and engaging in activities.
The last inspection of the service was carried out on 7 January 2014. The service was found to be compliant with all the regulations assessed at that time.
This inspection took place on 15 April 2015.
We were assisted throughout the inspection by the registered manager who had been in post for several years. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
As part of the inspection we spoke with a number of people who used the service and in some cases their main carers or relatives. The feedback received was very positive with people consistently expressing satisfaction with all aspects of the service. Every person we spoke with told us they would happily recommend the service to others.
People told us they felt safe when receiving care and felt care workers had a good understanding of their needs. There were thorough processes in place to ensure every person who used the service had a detailed care plan that addressed their care needs and any risks to their safety and wellbeing.
People were provided with effective health care support and the service worked well with community professionals to ensure the support met their needs and helped them to stay safe and well.
People who used the service were provided with personalised care which was based on their individual needs, wishes and goals. People were fully involved in the development of their care plans and felt their views and opinions about how their care was provided were encouraged.
In discussion, care staff were described as caring, kind and thoughtful. People who used the service felt they were provided with compassionate support and that their privacy and dignity was always respected.
People described a reliable service which was responsive to their needs. We heard a number of examples of people’s care and support being adapted to meet their needs with very positive outcomes.
Staff were carefully recruited and were required to undergo a number of background checks prior to starting their employment. There was a comprehensive training programme in place which helped ensure staff had the appropriate skills and knowledge to carry out their roles effectively.
The service was based on values such as caring, respect and supporting independence. Managers promoted these values and staff described a positive, open culture within which they felt able to express their views or raise concerns.
The provider and registered manager had an effective system to regularly assess and monitor the quality of the service that people received. Quality assurance systems involved people who used the service and staff, which helped to ensure they had a say in the development of the service.
There were lots of activities going on, which people were enjoying on a one-to-one basis. Some people were busy with meal preparation and others engaged in their chosen activities. Some people were planning evenings out.
Support workers clearly showed they had a good understanding of people's needs and were responsive to people's requests for support. During our visit, one person requested support to telephone a family member and this was provided immediately.
Whilst the people we met didn't give us any detailed feedback about their service, they expressed general satisfaction with their lifestyles and the support they received. Some comments we received were:
'I am out and about every day!'
'I like seeing my friends. We are meeting up tonight!'
'I went on holiday. I chose to go with another person because I liked her. We stayed in a chalet and we hired a bike. I am going again and I can't wait!'
During this inspection we looked at the care people received and how staff ensured the care provided was in line with people's personal wishes and best interests. We also looked at how people's medicines were managed. Staff training and quality assurance were also assessed. We did not identify any concerns in any of the areas we inspected.
We observed staff supporting people in a kind and respectful manner. We noted that staff were skilled in communicating in service users' own preferred ways. Staff supported people to talk with us, but didn't answer for them, giving people plenty of time to think about what they wanted to say.
One service user showed us her care plan. It was clear that she had been involved in creating it and was aware of its contents. She showed us pictures of her enjoying her favourite hobbies, swimming and horse riding. She also showed us pictures of her support staff and told us their names.
Whilst we were visiting the office, we met a service user who had come to say hello to managers. She told us, 'I am always here, me! I like popping in. I make my own drink here.'
During this inspection we looked at how people who used the service were involved in its running and their own support planning. We looked at how the provider promoted people's welfare and safety and ensured people were able to raise concerns. In addition, we examined how the provider ensured that any staff recruited, were suitable to work with vulnerable people. We found the provider to be compliant with all the areas we inspected.
We received some very positive feedback from people and everyone we consulted expressed satisfaction with the service provided.
People spoke highly of support workers and told us they felt they were treated in a kind, respectful manner by staff.
Comments included;
'I like them a lot, they make me feel happy.'
'They help me with everything and we have fun.'
'Everything is happy, everyone is happy here.'
'All the staff I have ever come into contact with when visiting my relative have been excellent. They seem to have a very good attitude.'
People told us that they felt fully involved in their own care and were able to make decisions about the support they received. One person we met showed us his support plan. He went through the various sections with us explaining how the support planning process worked.
We talked to people about how they liked to spend their time. People described a variety of activities they regularly enjoyed. One person told us that he went to college most days and enjoyed social activities in the evening. He was very much looking forward to a family event which was planned for the weekend.
A relative said 'They always seem to be doing something. People are not left to sit around, they are always out enjoying themselves.'
We observed people being supported and saw that service users and staff appeared to get along very well together. People looked relaxed, content and comfortable in their surroundings.