• Care Home
  • Care home

Swallowdale

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

5 Bilsby Road, Alford, Lincolnshire, LN13 9EW (01507) 463833

Provided and run by:
Linkage Community Trust

Assessment report published 27 October 2026

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Well-led

Good

8 October 2026

Well-led – this means we looked for evidence that service leadership, management and governance assured high-quality, person-centred care; supported learning and innovation; and promoted an open, fair culture. At our last assessment we rated this key question as good. At this assessment the rating has remained as good. This meant the service was consistently managed and well-led. Leaders and the culture they created promoted high-quality, person-centred care.

This service scored 79 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

Shared direction and culture

Score: 3

The provider had a shared vision, strategy and culture. This was based on transparency, equity, equality and human rights, diversity and inclusion, engagement, and understanding challenges and the needs of people and their communities.

Capable, compassionate and inclusive leaders

Score: 3

We did not look at Capable, compassionate and inclusive leaders during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Well-led.

Freedom to speak up

Score: 3

We did not look at Freedom to speak up during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Well-led.

Workforce equality, diversity and inclusion

Score: 3

We did not look at Workforce equality, diversity and inclusion during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Well-led.

Governance, management and sustainability

Score: 3

The provider had clear responsibilities, roles, systems of accountability and good governance. They used these to manage and deliver good quality, sustainable care, treatment and support. They acted on the best information about risk, performance and outcomes, and shared this securely with others when appropriate.

Partnerships and communities

Score: 3

We did not look at Partnerships and communities during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Well-led.

Learning, improvement and innovation

Score: 4

The provider had a strong focus on continuous learning, innovation and improvement across the organisation and local system. Leaders always encouraged creative ways of delivering equality of experience, outcome and quality of life for people. They actively contributed to safe, effective practice and research. Staff were encouraged to undergo qualifications and training courses. Further training on awareness and understanding of autism and learning disabilities was planned. The registered manager had used interactive approaches to support other people living at Swallowdale to understand how people who are deaf/blind experience the world. This resulted in increased communication between the person who was deaf/blind and other people living at the home. This promoted acceptance of the person’s need to use touch to identify someone. A person now introduced themselves using touch-Makaton to say their name.