Cambridgeshire Shared Lives Scheme

Updated 2 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 announced inspection took place on 20 and 21 December 2018. The inspection was undertaken by one inspector. We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection visit because it is small and the manager is often out of the office supporting staff. We needed to be sure that they would be in.

Before the inspection the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is information we require providers to send us at least annually. This provides us with information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used this information to assist us with the planning of this inspection. We also looked at other information we held about the service. This included information from responses to our survey questionnaire and information from statutory notifications the provider sent to us. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to send to us such as incidents or allegations of harm.

Prior to our inspection we contacted the local safeguarding authority and commissioners of the service to ask them about their views of the service. These organisations’ views helped us to plan our inspection.

On the 20 December 2018 we visited the service and visited and spoke with two people in their homes. We also spoke with the manager, two senior care coordinators and three carers. We also spoke with three relatives. On the 21 December 2018 we spoke with a further two carers and two relatives.

We looked at care documentation for five people using the service and their medicines' administration records. We also looked at three staff files, staff training and supervision planning records and other records relating to the management of the service. These included records associated with audit and quality assurance, accidents and incidents and complaints.

Updated 2 February 2019

This announced inspection took place between 20 and 21 December 2018. At our inspection in June 2016 the service was rated 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.

Cambridgeshire Shared Lives Scheme is registered to provide the regulated activity of personal care. The scheme recruits and supports approved carers who share their home and/or community life for a few hours a week, an overnight stay, or a longer term live-in arrangement, for younger and older adults who need support.

Shared Lives carers’ strengths, knowledge and personalities are matched to the needs of the person who needs support. Introductory visits enable people to become familiar with the carer, their family and their home to enable them to make a choice about who provides their support and ensure the carer feels fully able to support the person who will be staying with them in their home. This could be for day support, respite, or to move in with their Shared Lives carer’s family for a longer period of time.

At the time of our inspection there were 97 people using the scheme of which 15 people received the regulated activity of personal care. Not everyone using Cambridgeshire Shared Lives Scheme receives a 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.

A registered manager was not in post. The previous registered manager left on 30 August 2018. A new manager had been in post for 10 weeks and they were applying for registration with the Commission.

People continued to receive a safe service. Carers understood how to keep people safe and how to report any concerns about safeguarding. Any incidents of concern were reported and acted on. Staff were recruited in a safe way. The provider ensured they had the right skills to meet people's needs in a safe way and understood the proper and safe use of medicines. Where needed infection control and prevention procedures were adhered to.

People continued to receive a service that was effective. Staff were equipped with the knowledge and skills required through relevant training to provide effective and responsive support to meet people’s needs. People ate and drank healthily. Staff and carers supported people to access healthcare services and respected people’s decisions.

People continued to receive a service that was kind, sincere, compassionate and caring. Staff knew people well, listened to what they said and acted accordingly. Staff and carers upheld people's dignity and privacy.

Staff and carers knew what each person’s preferences were and promoted these. People's concerns were acted on before they became a complaint. Systems and policies were in place should people need support at the end of their lives.

The service was well-led by a manager who had identified areas for improvement. The manager supported the staff team to be open and honest. People were involved in determining how the service was run. The manager and staff team worked well with others involved in people's care. The provider ensured that we were told about important events. Staff and carers upheld the provider's values for making a difference to the quality of people's care, people led fulfilling lives as a result.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.