Archived: Care Link Residential Care Home

Updated 10 February 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 23 January 2018 and was announced. We announced the inspection as people attended a day centre throughout the week and 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) we received from the home. A PIR is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the home, what it does well and any improvements they plan to make. We used this information to decide which areas to focus on during our inspection.

During the inspection we spoke with the deputy manager. People and staff were not at the home at the time of the inspection, as people were in day centres.

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

After the inspection, we spoke to one person and two staff by telephone.

Updated 10 February 2018

We carried out an announced inspection of Care Link Residential Care Home on 23 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 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.