We inspected Vale View on 27 January 2015. The inspection was unannounced.

Vale View provides accommodation and care for up to 10 younger adults who experience needs related to learning disabilities. It is located in the grounds of Toynton College in Toynton All Saints near Spilsby in Lincolnshire.

There was a registered manager in post at the time of the inspection. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

CQC is required by law to monitor the operation of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and to report on what we find. DoLS are in place to protect people where they do not have capacity to make decisions and where it is considered necessary to restrict their freedom in some way, usually to protect themselves. At the time of the inspection three people who lived in the home had their freedom restricted in order to keep them safe and four people were awaiting the outcomes of their assessments for a DoLS authorisation. The registered persons had acted in accordance with the MCA and DoLS guidance to ensure people had their rights protected.

People were safe living at the home. Staff understood how to identify, report and manage any concerns related to people’s safety and welfare. People were supported to understand the risks to their safety and how they could play a part in reducing those risks. Staff understood the importance of positive risk taking so that people could continue to develop their independence and adulthood in a safe way.

There was a warm and caring ‘family style’ atmosphere in the home throughout the visit; an atmosphere in which mutual trust between people and staff was evident. People’s support was delivered in a respectful and dignified manner, and they were encouraged to extend this dignity and respect to everyone they lived with. Staff were committed to ensuring there was a fair and equitable approach to care and support. The basis for this approach was a communication system that ensured everyone had a voice within the home.

People were actively involved in the running of the home and had a say about how the registered provider supported developments within the home. They were encouraged to voice their views and opinions and felt confident that staff would listen to them and take action where it was needed. Staff ensured people had every opportunity to make their own decisions and choices wherever they were able to do so. Staff acted in accordance with MCA principles and guidance in this regard and understood how to appropriately manage care and support in people’s best interests.

People and staff worked closely together to ensure everyone lived a life they enjoyed and that was meaningful for them. People were supported to involve others they considered important to them in planning and reviewing their care and support. This was to ensure they had an appropriate network to support them to achieve a fulfilling lifestyle. Staff had a detailed understanding of people’s needs, wishes and preferences and used this understanding to promote a person-centred approach to care and support. This included how people were supported to maintain good health and receive appropriate nutrition.

People were able to develop their presence in the local community. This was achieved by people being supported to undertake local work placements and enjoy using community social facilities such as local pubs and cinemas. People had individual activity plans that helped them to develop new interests and maintain those they liked. They had support to take holidays and maintain relationships with those who were important to them.

The registered manager promoted an open and supportive culture within the home for both people who lived there and the staff team. They maintained systems which ensured appropriate staff were employed to work with people and that they had the knowledge and skills to support people in a person-centred way. Systems were also in place to ensure the quality of services provided for people was of a good standard and would be improved where there was an identified need.

When we visited the home, the home had re-opened three week previously. The people who lived there had moved from another of the organisation’s homes and had settled in well.

We spoke with five people who lived at the home, the manager, deputy manager and three members of care staff as well as senior members of the organisation.

People appeared happy and relaxed in their new surroundings. They told us staff did not help them to do anything unless they gave their permission first.

One person said, "I feel well looked after here and I’m happy too.” We saw good interaction between people who lived at the home and the care staff.

There were systems in place for the storage and safe administration of medicines. People told us they received their medicines on time.

People felt staff knew what they were doing. Staff told us they felt supported to deliver safe care to people. A member of staff told us, “The support system and the team is really strong. I love it. “

People who lived at the home felt confident any concerns and complaints would be dealt with swiftly. A robust complaints system was in place.

We used a number of different ways to help us understand the experiences of people who used the service. This was because some people had complex needs which meant that they were not able to tell us about their experiences.

We saw people who lived in the home received individualised care and support, from staff that were knowledgeable about their needs, wishes and preferences. Staff clearly understood each person's way of communicating their needs and wishes. They supported them to make choices and decisions about their lifestyles wherever they could do so. One person told us they had picked their key worker.

During our visit we were able to speak with two people who used the service.

People we spoke with were positive about the care and support they received. They told us the staff were nice and helped them to be independent. One person told us, "Staff are good, they help me." Another person said, “Staff read my care plan with me and they help me with my goals.”

People we spoke with confirmed they felt safe at the service. They told us they could talk with the staff if they had any concerns.

During the visit we spoke with parents of one person who confirmed their satisfaction with all aspects of the service. They told us, “We are very pleased with the service from Linkage” and “Our son is much more independent now, this is down to the college and the great support from the staff.”