Link Medical Staffing Solutions Ltd Haverhill Branch

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.

At the time of the inspection, the location did not care or support for anyone with a learning disability or an autistic person. However, we assessed the care provision under Right Support, Right Care, Right Culture, as it is registered as a specialist service for this population group.

The provider did not have adequate knowledge of the 'Right Support, Right Care, Right Culture' guidance. In addition, in July 2022 the Health and Care Act 2022 introduced a requirement that regulated service providers ensure their staff receive training on learning disability and autism which is appropriate to the person's role. The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism is the standardised training that was developed for this purpose and is the government's preferred and recommended training for health and social care staff to undertake. The provider had not heard about this training and staff working for Link Medical Staffing Solutions had not undertaken it.

The provider was not able to demonstrate how they would meet the underpinning principles of Right Support, Right Care, Right Culture'. We signposted the provider to relevant information.

People shared that they did not always receive their care and support visits from staff they knew. They told us where changes occurred, these were not always communicated in a timely manner.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service did not

always support this practice.

Mechanisms for auditing were in place, but they needed to be strengthened and clear records of outcome and actions needed maintained. People and their relatives required increased formal opportunities to feedback about the care they received, and the provider needed to improve how they evidenced actions in response to feedback. Many members of staff spoke of a lack of communication within the service.

People spoke positively about the care they received, and the staff providing their care. People were safely supported with their medicines and systems were in place to ensure good infection prevention and control practice was in place.