Care Link Residential Care Home

Updated 26 January 2018

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, to look at the overall quality of the home, and to provide a rating for the home under the Care Act 2014.

The inspection was carried out on Wednesday 3 January 2018 and was announced. We announced the inspection as people attended a day centre throughout the week; therefore no one would be available at the home. We wanted to ensure someone would be available to support us during the inspection. The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Before the inspection we reviewed relevant information that we had about the provider such as the provider information return (PIR) from the home. A PIR is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the home, what the home does well and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to decide which areas to focus on during our inspection.

During the inspection we spoke with the deputy manager, a care staff and one person.

We reviewed documents and records that related to people’s care and the management of the home. We reviewed two people’s care plans, which included risk assessments, and three staff files, which included supervision records. We looked at other documents held at the home such as medicine, training and quality assurance records.

After the inspection, we spoke to one relative by telephone.

Updated 26 January 2018

We carried out an announced inspection of Care Link Residential Care Home on 3 January 2018. Care Link Residential Care Home is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. Care Link Residential Care Home is a care home for up to three adults with learning disabilities. At the time of our inspection, two people lived there and received support with personal care.

At the last inspection on 28 October 2015 the home was rated ‘Good’. At this inspection we found the home remained ‘Good’.

The home had a registered manager. The registered manager was not available at the time of the inspection. The deputy manager supported us with the inspection. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the home. Like registered providers, they are 'registered persons'. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the legal requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and the associated regulations on how the home is run.

Deprivation of Liberty Safeguarding (DoLS) applications had not been made with the local authority to deprive people of their liberties lawfully. DoLS authorisations are made to protect people's liberty where the home was required to restrict people's movement both in and outside the home.

Risks had been identified and assessed, which provided information to staff on how to mitigate risks to keep people safe. Medicines were being managed safely. There were sufficient staffing levels to support people. Premises safety checks had been carried out to ensure the premises was safe. Staff had been trained in safeguarding vulnerable adults and knew how to keep people safe. There was safe recruitment processes in place to ensure staff were suitable to support people.

Staff had the knowledge, training and skills to care for people effectively. Staff received regular supervision and support to carry out their roles. People had choices during meal times and were supported with meals when required. Assessments had been carried out on people’s ability to make certain decisions. People had access to healthcare services. People’s needs and choices were being assessed regularly through review meetings to achieve effective outcomes.

People and relatives told us that staff were friendly and caring. People were treated in a respectful and dignified manner by staff who understood the need to protect people's human rights. People had been involved with making decisions about their care.

People received care that was shaped around their individual needs, interests and preferences. Care plans were person centred and staff knew how to provide person centred care to people. People and relatives were aware of how to make complaints if they wanted to and staff knew how to manage complaints.

Staff felt well supported by the management team. People and relatives were complimentary about the management of the home. Quality assurance and monitoring systems were in place to make continuous improvements.