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Inspection on 07/05/09 for Linkage Cluster 2

Also see our care home review for Linkage Cluster 2 for more information

This inspection was carried out on 7th May 2009.

CQC found this care home to be providing an Excellent service.

The inspector made no statutory requirements on the home as a result of this inspection and there were no outstanding actions from the previous inspection report.

What follows are excerpts from this inspection report. For more information read the full report on the next tab.

Annual service review Name of Service: Linkage Cluster 2 The quality rating for this care home is: The rating was made on: three star excellent service A quality rating is our assessment of how well a care home, agency or scheme is meeting the needs of the people who use it. We give a quality rating following a full review of the service. We call this review a ‘key’ inspection We do an annual service review when there has been no key inspection of the service in the last 12 months. It does not involve a visit to the service but is a summary of new information given to us, or collected by us, since the last key inspection or annual service review.   Has this annual service review changed our opinion of the service?   No You should read the last key inspection report for this service to get a full picture of how well outcomes for the people using the service are being met. The date by which we will do a key inspection: Name of inspector: Jane Lyons Date of this annual service review: 0 1 0 6 2 0 0 9 Annual Service Review Page 1 of 7 Information about the service Address of service: Ferriby Lane 234 Scartho Road Grimsby DN33 2EB 01472241044 Telephone number: Fax number: Email address: Provider web address:   Name of registered provider(s): Conditions of registration: Category(ies) : learning disability Conditions of registration: Linkage Community Trust Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 Over 65 16 0 The maximum number of service users who can be accommodated is: 16 The registered person may provide the following category of service only: Care home only - Code PC. To service users of the following gender: Either. Whose primary care needs on admission to the home are within the following category: Learning disability Code LD, maximum number of places: 16 Have there been any changes in the ownership, management or the No service’s registration details in the last 12 months? If yes, what have they been: Date of last key inspection: Date of last annual service review (if applicable): Brief description of the service Linkage cluster 2 comprises of three houses, which are located on the same road, although not next to each other, in Grimsby. All the houses offer accommodation on ground and first floor. They have gardens to front and rear and are in keeping with other properties on the road. They are on a main bus route to Grimsby and close to local shops and amenities. 25, Scartho Road provides accommodation for 5 persons. On the ground floor there is a large lounge, a dining room, a domestic style kitchen with breakfast area, a utility Annual Service Review Page 2 of 7 room and a shower with toilet. Upstairs there are two double bedrooms, one single bedroom, a staff sleep-in room and a bathroom with shower over the bath. The Gables provides accommodation for 7 individuals. On the ground floor there is a domestic style kitchen, utility room, dining room, two lounges and a toilet. Upstairs there are three double bedrooms rooms, one single bedroom, a staff sleep-in room, bathroom with toilet and shower room with toilet. Ferriby provides accommodation for 9 individuals. On the ground floor there is one single bedroom, a large lounge, a large dining room, kitchen, utility room and a self contained flat with two single bedrooms an office, kitchenette land bathroom with toilet. Upstairs there are two double bedrooms, two single bedrooms, staff sleep-in room, one bathroom, one separate toilet and two shower rooms both with toilet. All the houses have furniture and fitting that are domestic in style. Information is made available to students in the service users guide and statement of purpose. Annual Service Review Page 3 of 7 Service update since the last key inspection or annual service review: What did we do for this annual service review? The last key inspection for this service was carried out on the 08/05/2007. The last Annual Service Review was carried out on the 14/07/2008. We looked at all the information that we have received or asked for since the last key inspection of the home. This included: The annual quality assessment (AQQA) that was sent out to us by the service. The AQQA is self assessment that focuses on how well outcomes are being met for people using the service. It also gave us some numerical information about the service. Surveys returned to by people using the service and from other people with an interest in the service. Information we have about the how the service has managed any complaints. What the service has told us about things that have happened in the service: these are called notifications and are a legal requirement. The previous key inspection and the results of any other visits that we have made to the service in the last 12 months. Relevant information from other organisations. What other people have told us about the service. What has this told us about the service? The home sent us their quality assurance assessment (AQQA) when we asked for it. This document was clear and gave us all the information we asked for. We looked at the information in the AQQA and our judgement is that the home is still providing an excellent service and that further improvements have been made during the last 12 months. Students living in the house told us that , they are able to make decisions about what they do each day and that they could do what they wanted to do. They also said, that staff treat them well, they were listened to and their views and opinions acted upon. This was done through regular consultation including weekly house meetings, six weekly review of care plans and via learner surveys. Students all said they knew how to make a complaint and felt that any concerns would be taken seriously. One survey we received commented I think its a good college, Im happy here. Relatives comments submitted in the AQQA document included: The Parent/Carer Satisfaction Survey indicates: Very impressed with the houses, beautifully decorated Annual Service Review Page 4 of 7 and furnished. The houses have all been excellent and the staff very helpful and friendly. Staff have been brilliant in the support of my daughter and letting her have her independence. A very difficult balance. Other information provided in the AQQA document included details of the 2008 Ofsted inspection which demonstrate positive management practices, a positive learning and living environment and educational support, these include: Care plans are comprehensive and cover all aspects of individual support requirements Accommodation is excellent and The leadership and management are good. Information in the AQQA confirmed that further improvements have been made during the last 12 months, for example the service has improved communications with parents/ carers with greater frequency of contact, increased the number of person centred plans completed which are regularly reviewed, working more closely with education staff to ensure consistency when meeting care needs, promoted healthy living with staff training and menu changes,refurbished the property offering the students a higher quality of living environment. The AQQA document also states that the Managers have now attended training on the Mental Capacity Act and this is being cascaded to staff. Improved communication with parent/ carers has also improved their responsiveness to complaints and concerns. A further area of improvement is that they have introduced waking night staff to replace sleep ins which has improved the level of support for learners and the responsiveness of staff working during the night. Staff told us in surveys that they enjoy working at the service some of the comments included: Our manager is always supportive towards staff and students and ensures our training is up to date, I thoroughly enjoy my role, everyday is different, it is a rewarding job, I feel I contribute to the learning and confidence building of the learners here, The house in which I work is very homely, the staff work well together as part of a team, communication is key regarding the learners and The care side is very good in the home, they feel comfortable with the staff and are extremely happy. The service has continued to work closely with local community health and social care professionals, we received positive comments in surveys , for example:Always do everything for their service users, independence skills are well supported, Of all the students I have known, they have always flourished at Linkage and There are very good support systems in place, students are respected and provided with good education. The home continues to let us know about things that have happenend since our last key inspection and they have shown that they have managed issues well. They work well with us and have shown that their service continues to provide excellent outcomes for the people who use it. There have been no complaints in the last 12 months, either via the home or through the Care Quality Commission. One safeguarding referral was made, which was Annual Service Review Page 5 of 7 appropriately managed. The home sends Regulation 37 notifications and Regulation 26 visits are regularly completed. What are we going to do as a result of this annual service review? We are not going to change our inspection plan, and will do a key visit by the 6th May 2010. However , we can inspect the service at any time if we have concerns about the quality of the service or the safety of the people using the service. Annual Service Review Page 6 of 7 Reader Information Document Purpose: Author: Audience: Further copies from: Annual service review CQC General Public 0870 240 7535 (national contact centre) Our duty to regulate social care services is set out in the Care Standards Act 2000. The content of which can be found on our website. Helpline: Telephone: 03000 616161 Email: enquiries@cqc.org.uk Web: www.cqc.org.uk We want people to be able to access this information. If you would like a copy of the findings in a different format or language please contact our helpline or go to our website. Copyright © (2009) Care Quality Commission (CQC). This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part, free of charge, in any format or medium provided that it is not used for commercial gain. This consent is subject to the material being reproduced accurately and on proviso that it is not used in a derogatory manner or misleading context. The material should be acknowledged as CQC copyright, with the title and date of publication of the document specified. Annual Service Review Page 7 of 7 - Please note that this information is included on www.bestcarehome.co.uk under license from the regulator. Re-publishing this information is in breach of the terms of use of that website. Discrete codes and changes have been inserted throughout the textual data shown on the site that will provide incontrovertable proof of copying in the event this information is re-published on other websites. 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