We carried out a review of the data available to us about Care Link Residential Care Home 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 Care Link Residential Care Home, you can give feedback on this service.
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.
Care Link Residential Care Home provides accommodation and support with personal care for up to three adults with learning disabilities.
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 told us they felt safe living at the service and staff understood their responsibilities to protect people from the risk of abuse.
Staff had the knowledge and skills to care for people effectively and responded promptly to their needs, whilst maintaining their dignity.
People were supported to maintain their nutrition and received their medicines as prescribed. Referrals were made to health care professionals for additional support or guidance if people’s health changed. The registered manager had links with the local community to help people avoid social isolation.
The consent of people or their representatives was sought appropriately and where limitations on people’s freedom were necessary these were properly discussed and authorised.
People were supported by a sufficient number of staff and effective recruitment procedures were operated to ensure staff were safe to work with people using the service.
People were involved in the planning and reviewing of their care. They were treated with kindness and compassion by staff.
The views of people, relatives and staff had been sought and acted upon. Complaints had been responded to and action taken to address issues identified through monitoring and audit processes.
People's comments included, " I have been here a long time. This is my home and we are a family" and "I like going out with the staff to the shops and for meals. It's nice." A relative told us, "they look after my family member so well. The manager and the staff are very caring and go out of their way to help."
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 in promoting their independence and community involvement. The two people we spoke with told us about their day centres and the local amenities they liked to visit.
The provider had taken steps to make sure that prescribed medicines were safely managed, although staff did not consistently know basic information about the medications they were administering.
Systems were in place to make sure that people using the service were protected through safe recruitment of staff.
The provider had an effective system to regularly assess and monitor the quality of care and support that people receive.
We found the service had procedures in place for safeguarding vulnerable adults, and that staff had undertaken training in this. The service also had a complaints procedure, which was produced in formats that were accessible to people. People told us they liked the staff. One person said of the staff "they are nice to me." We found that there were sufficient staff on duty to meet people's needs.