Archived: Care Link Residential Care Home

At the last inspection on 9 November 2015 the home was rated ‘Good’. At this inspection, we found the home remained ‘Good’.

The home had a registered manager. 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. The registered manager was not available at the time of the inspection. The deputy manager supported us with the inspection.

Risk assessments had been completed to ensure risks to people’s safety were mitigated. Medicines for people were managed safely. There was enough staff on duty to care for and support people safely. Staff were aware of safeguarding procedures and knew how to keep people safe from abuse. Safe recruitment practices were in place to ensure staff were suitable to work with vulnerable people. Systems were in place to reduce the risk and spread of infection.

Staff had been trained in accordance with people’s needs. Regular supervisions had been carried out with staff and staff told us they were supported. Staff sought people's consent to the care and support they provided. People's rights were protected under the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Deprivation of Liberty Safeguarding (DoLS) applications had been made to deprive people of their liberties lawfully. People had choices of food and drink during meal times. People told us they enjoyed the food. People had access to healthcare services. People’s needs and choices were assessed regularly through review meetings to achieve effective outcomes.

People told us that staff were friendly and caring. People’s privacy and dignity were respected. Staff were aware of how to communicate with people and care plans included ways of communicating with people. People had access to information that was accessible through formats such as pictorial and easy read.

There was a programme of activities. These activities took place regularly. Care plans were personalised and included information on how to support people in a person centred way. People knew how to make complaints and staff were aware of how to manage complaints.

Staff told us that the home was well-led and people were positive about the management of the home. Quality assurance and monitoring systems were in place to make continuous improvements.

Care Link Residential Care Home provides accommodation and personal care for up to three adults with a learning disability. At the time of this inspection there were two people living at the service.

There was a registered manager in place. 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.

People were protected against the risks of abuse as staff were clear on the different types of abuse and their responsibilities to protect people from harm. People felt safe living at the service and comfortable in the presence of staff. Appropriate checks were carried out before staff began work at the service.

There were sufficient numbers of staff to meet people’s needs and keep them safe. Staff were given training and support they needed to help them look after people appropriately.

People received personal care and support that was responsive to their needs. Individual risks to people had been assessed and recorded in their care plans to keep people safe.

People were supported with their nutritional and hydration needs and were involved in the planning of the menus. They were also supported with medicines administration by staff who had been trained to do so.

Staff had received training on the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). This legislation sets out how to proceed when people do not have capacity and what guidelines must be followed to ensure people’s freedoms are not restricted. The registered manager and staff were knowledgeable about assessing people’s ability to make specific decisions about their care. People, where required, were referred to the most appropriate health care professional when needed.

People were also encouraged to be as independent as possible and their privacy and dignity was promoted. There were opportunities for people to be involved in many interesting activities both inside and outside the service.

There was a range of effective audit and quality assurance procedures in place. These were used as a means of identifying areas for improvement and also where good practice had been established.

One person told us, "I am happy here. I am looking forward to spending Christmas here, this is my home." A relative told us, "I feel comfortable about the quality of the care. I have no complaints. My relative looks well cared for."

People were asked for their consent to care and appropriate actions were taken to identify and respond when people did not have capacity to give consent.

People were supported to take part in activities at home and within the wider community. The care we looked at showed that people's social and health care needs were assessed and regularly monitored.

Relatives told us they felt people were safe living at the home and there were systems in place to protect people from the risk of abuse.

The staffing rotas showed there were sufficient staff on duty to meet people's needs.

People using the service and their representatives were provided with information about how to make a complaint and there were procedures for appropriately dealing with any complaints.