24 August 2016
During a routine inspection
Shared Lives is a service which supports carers to provide a home for people who are unable to or choose not to live on their own. They live as part of the carer’s family. Carers are not directly employed by the scheme but are paid a fee which is dependent on the amount and type of support they provide for individuals. People using the service and their shared lives carers enjoy shared activities and life experiences. Generally, the people who use the service have learning and/or associated disabilities.
The service is provided by the local authority. At the time of the inspection 18 people received long or short term (respite) care which included the regulated activity (personal care). There were 26 carers approved to offer support to people who required personal care as part of their needs assessment. Additionally the service offered day care and other services which were not regulated by the Care Quality Commission.
There is a registered manager running the service. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the 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.
People, carers, staff and others were kept as safe as possible because staff and carers were appropriately trained and followed health and safety procedures. They knew how to recognise and manage any form of abuse or risk of harm. Carers and staff members knew how and when to follow safeguarding procedures. Detailed risk assessments advised people, carers and staff and how to reduce risks, as much as possible. The robust risk assessment process enabled people to live in domestic homes and take the risks that this type of living involved, but as safely as possible. The recruitment procedure checked that staff and carers were safe and suitable to work with and/or provide people with care. The service carefully assessed what support people needed to take their medicine. Carers provided any help needed, safely.
People were totally involved in making decisions about their care. They chose where to live, who with and planned their care and support, with the help of others. Staff made sure that carers were able to uphold people’s legal rights with regard to decision making and choice. People’s capacity to make decisions was recorded, if appropriate and necessary. Staff ensured carers provided people with care that met their individual needs, preferences and choices. People’s rights were protected by staff who understood the Mental Capacity Act (2005). Staff provided carers with this knowledge, as necessary. This legislation provides a legal framework that sets out how to act to support people who do not have capacity to make a specific decision
People were respected as a family member and their privacy and dignity was encouraged and promoted. People’s diversity was fully understood and people’s carers and support plans reflected their particular needs. People were matched with carers who could offer them a home where any special needs could be absorbed into family life.
The service was well-led by a registered manager who was knowledgeable about the service and the needs of people. Although they managed two services staff felt they were always available. Staff felt valued and supported by the registered manager and this reflected on the standard of support they were able to give to carers. The service monitored and assessed the quality of the service. Improvements had been identified and had been or were being acted upon.