Link House

Updated 3 April 2025

This assessment took place between 22 April and 30 April 2025. Link House provides care and support to people living in their homes, so that they can live as independently as possible. The Care Quality Commission (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. Not everyone who used the service received personal care. At the time of this assessment, 2 people who used the service were receiving personal care.

We assessed the service against ‘right support, right care, right culture’ guidance to make judgements about whether the provider guaranteed people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted.

The service had made improvements and was no longer in breach of regulations. Risks to people were now managed well. Risks to people’s safety and wellbeing were assessed and reviewed at regular intervals. This meant staff had access to up to date information about how to manage these risks and keep people safe from injury or harm. Medicines were managed more safely. Record keeping had improved and staff received appropriate support to help them administer medicines safely. Information about people had improved. People’s needs were assessed and reviewed at regular intervals and staff now had up to date information to help them provide the care and support people required. Staff were now provided with regular and relevant training and supervision to help them meet the range of people’s needs and to continuously improve and develop in their role. Governance systems were used more effectively by managers to help them identify any shortfalls in the service.

Staff understood how to protect people from the risk of abuse. There were enough staff to support people and meet their needs. Recruitment practice was safe. Infection risks were managed well. People were involved in assessments of their needs. They received care centred on them and their individual needs, including those related to their protected equality characteristics. People were supported to stay healthy and well. People were given information which met their needs. Staff made sure people understood their care, to give informed consent. People were treated equally, fairly, and supported to access the care and support they needed. Staff understood people’s rights and how these should be met. The service was led by experienced managers. Staff were valued and supported with their wellbeing. People and staff were encouraged to raise concerns and these were listened to. There was a culture of learning, improvement, inclusivity and partnership working, focused on supporting people to achieve positive outcomes.

Updated 3 April 2025

People were happy, safe and treated well by the staff team providing their care and support. People could choose how their care and support was provided to them. Their choices were respected by a regular team of staff, who provided care and support in line with people’s preferences. People’s needs were well understood by staff and they received care and support tailored to meet these needs. Staff worked well with others involved in people’s care and support. They shared information and learning when needed to make sure there was a consistent and joined up approach to the care and support people received. People were supported to share and communicate their views about their care and support. When people wanted changes made, staff listened and took action to make the improvements needed. Staff supported people to live safely and independently and do the things that mattered to them. A relative told us, “I am looking for an organisation that will look after [family member]…[Family member] is going out more and doing things that she feels happy in doing. She goes to places she wants to and she’s got a choice about this which is really important…They are doing what we want them to do and we trust the people that look after her.” Another relative told us it was important to their family member that they felt part of their local community and the service supported them with this need. They told us, “All the businesses know [family member] and give her presents and cards and the staff always say hello...All the local shopkeepers know her, she’s like a celebrity.” People did not have any concerns about the quality of care and support provided to them. They knew who to raise concerns or complaints with, if they did.