2 August 2022
During a routine inspection
Community Links is a domiciliary care service. Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also consider any wider social care provided. The service specialises in caring for adults with complex health needs, including learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorder and sensory impairment. Community Links were supporting two people at the time of out inspection and were in the transition process to provide care for three more people.
We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities which most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Right Support
Staff supported people with activities that they wanted to do which allowed them to have choice and control over their lives and enjoy a full life. People’s families were engaged with by staff and management to plan support and activities.
Staff enabled people to access specialist health and social care support in the community and people were supported to play an active role in maintaining their own health and wellbeing.
The service had enough appropriately skilled staff to meet people’s needs and keep them safe.
Right Care
People’s care, treatment and support plans reflected their range of needs and this promoted their wellbeing and enjoyment of life.
People received kind and compassionate care. Staff protected and respected people’s privacy and dignity. Staff understood and responded to their individual needs.
Staff understood how to protect people from poor care and abuse. Staff had training on how to recognise and report abuse and they knew how to apply it.
People could take part in activities and pursue interests that were tailored to them.
Right culture
People led inclusive and empowered lives because of the ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of the management and staff.
Staffing was consistent, which supported people to receive care from staff who knew them well. This meant people received compassionate and empowering care which was tailored to their needs.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection and update
This service was registered with us on 2 November 2020 and this is the first inspection.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.