Background to this inspection
Updated
12 February 2019
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
This inspection took place between 18 and 25 January 2019 and was carried out by two adult social care inspectors, an adult social care assistant inspector and two experts by experience. An expert-by-experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service. The inspection was announced to ensure the registered manager was available.
Before the inspection we reviewed the information, we held about the service. This included notifications from the provider and speaking with the local authority contracts and safeguarding teams. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law.
The provider had completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). The PIR is a document which gives the provider the opportunity to tell us about the service. This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.
Between 18 and 24 January 2019, we spoke on the telephone with six people who use the service, three carers and seven relatives of people who use the service.
On 21 and 25 January 2019, we visited the provider’s office and spent time looking at records, which included nine people’s care records, some in detail and others to check specific information, staff recruitment files and records relating to the management of the service. We also spoke with the registered manager, two social workers employed by the servicer and one support worker.
On 25 January 2019 one adult social care inspector held a focus group meeting at a local venue and spoke with six people who use the service and nine carers.
We took all this information into account when making our judgements about the service.
Updated
12 February 2019
This inspection took place on 18, 21 and 25 January 2019 and was announced. At the time of our inspection there were 122 people using the service.
Shared Lives Adult Placement Scheme is a service offering short breaks, personalised day services (‘Compass’ scheme) or a full-time home to adults with learning disabilities or complex health conditions. Shared Lives carers are self-employed people who take someone into their own homes either permanently or temporarily to give the person’s relatives a break. This enables the person to join in with the shared lives workers’ family and community life. Shared lives carers are recruited and supported by a team of local authority social workers based in Cottingley near Bradford. We refer to Shared Lives carers as 'carers' throughout this report. Shared Lives also include a service called 'Time Out', which offers family carers relief by supporting the person who needs care for a few hours in their own home or their own locality.
Not everyone using Shared Lives receives regulated activity; CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with 'personal care'; help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also take into account any wider social care provided.
At our last inspection in July 2016, we rated the service good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.
There was a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission 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.
Carers and service staff were recruited safely. Carers were offered training relevant to the needs of the people they were supporting. Shared Lives staff received training and updates and were supported by the registered manager, receiving formal supervision where they could discuss their ongoing development needs.
People who used the service and their relatives told us carers were helpful, attentive and caring.
Care plans were up to date and detailed what care and support people wanted and needed. Risk assessments were in place and showed what action had been taken to mitigate any risks which had been identified. Appropriate referrals were being made to the safeguarding team when this had been necessary.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. People were involved and consulted about all aspects of their care and support, where possible, including suggestions for activities.
People’s healthcare needs were being met and medicines were managed safely.
Carers knew about people’s dietary needs and preferences which were well documented in care records.
People were supported to access the local community and take part in their choice of activities.
People told us they knew how to complain. Records showed complaints received had been dealt with appropriately.
People told us the registered manager and social work team were approachable and supportive. The provider had systems in place to monitor the quality of care provided and where issues were identified they acted to make improvements.
We found all the fundamental standards were being met. Further information is in the detailed findings below.