12 August 2014
During a routine inspection
We carried out this announced inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and to pilot a new inspection process being introduced by CQC which looks at the overall quality of the service.
The scheme was last inspected on the 30 August 2013. No concerns were raised with the care and support provided to people at the inspection.
The shared lives scheme provides care and support to people in a family situation. Shared lives carers share their family and community life with someone who needs support to live independently. Dorset County Council Shared Lives Scheme offers personal care to people on a short term basis as well as long term placements for any adults over the age of 18.
The scheme had a team of seven staff who were employed by Dorset County Council. Shared lives carers worked on a self-employed basis and supported people within the carers’ home.
There was a registered manager for the service. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service and has the legal responsibility for meeting the requirements of the law; as does the provider.
The scheme was well led by the registered manager who was committed to providing a high quality service which was personalised to the people who used it.
People were cared for as part of a family unit and were involved in all family occasions and events. One person told us “I feel very at home with my carer.” A relative said “It’s just like having a whole new extended family. We couldn’t be happier with how it has all worked out.”
Everyone we asked about the scheme told us it provided a service that was personalised to each individual. Comments included: “The scheme treats everyone as an individual and with the respect they deserve” and “It is all personalised to them. There is a mutual respect and they have a lot of fun as well.”
People using the scheme and their representatives were involved in all aspects of the assessment process to make sure they were matched to shared lives carers who were able to respond to their needs and preferences. One relative told us: “You just couldn’t get a more personal service. They do everything they possibly can to find the right placement.”
Shared lives staff and carers received training that was appropriate to the scheme and the specific needs of the people they cared for. One shared lives carer told us they had been matched with a person who had mental health needs and the scheme had provided specific training in this.
Risks of abuse to people were minimised because of the rigorous approval process in place for shared lives carers. One member of staff told us: “The process can take up to a year. People we work with are very vulnerable and we need to make sure they will be safe.”
There were enough staff to safely support the scheme. Shared lives carers said they were always able to contact a member of staff if they had any concerns or needed support. One shared lives carer told us: “My allocated worker visits regularly and I know they are always at the end of the phone if I need them.”