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LinkLiving’s Fife Housing Support Service ranked “Very Good” by Inspectors
A local support service delivered by trauma-informed Scottish health and wellbeing charity LinkLiving has been recognised as “Very Good” by the Care Inspectorate.
The Fife Support Service, based at West Bridge Mill, Kirkcaldy, provides housing support and a care-at-home service to adults living in their own homes and temporary accommodation.
The report said: “People experienced compassionate support from staff who consistently demonstrated respectful ways of working. Staff were clear about the organisational values of integrity and empathy and worked hard to advocate for people’s human rights and access to services. LinkLiving were fully committed to being a trauma-informed organisation who worked to overcome the negative impacts of trauma, mental health, inequality and isolation. All staff were trained to “Trauma- Informed Practice Level 2”, and this had nurtured a team who consistently considered the impact of trauma and worked skillfully with people to reduce this impact.”
The inspectors spoke with people who use the service to gather their thoughts on their experiences. One said: “The staff here are first class. Total respect from the minute you come here.” Another added: “They understand trauma and the impact of that. I never felt judged. Just understood. They listened without prying.”
The service was inspected on four quality indicators, rated one to six as follows:
- People experience compassion, dignity and respect: 6 (Excellent)
- People get the most out of life: 5 (Very Good)
- People’s health and wellbeing benefits from their support: 5 (Very Good)
- Quality Assurance is well led: 5 (Very Good)
This is the first time the service has been awarded a ‘6’ during an inspection, which is all the more impressive given the challenges facing social care since the pandemic.
Sarah Smith, LinkLiving’s CEO, said: “I am delighted that the excellent work of our colleagues in Fife has been acknowledged by the Care Inspectorate.
“I am particularly pleased that our approach to trauma has been commended by the inspector and the positive impacts of the training staff have received in identifying and compassionately responding to trauma in people’s lives highlighted in the report. The social care sector is experiencing a crisis in recruitment and funding, and this puts our colleagues under significant pressure, which is why I am so proud that they continue to go above and beyond in the support they deliver to people in Fife, ensuring that they put into practice the values of LinkLiving.”
John Jenks, LinkLiving’s Quality Assurance and Business Support Manager, added: “I am hugely pleased with this inspection. I hope our staff feel proud and it lifts their spirits. I want to thank the people we support who were contacted by the Care Inspectorate. Their positive experiences shone through in the report and are a great testament to the hard work undertaken by our staff.”