Harrow Shared Lives Scheme

Updated 6 March 2020

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

Harrow Shared Live Scheme is a shared lives scheme. They recruit, train and support self-employed shared lives carers (SLC) who offer accommodation and support arrangements for vulnerable adults within their own family homes in the community.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority who monitors HSLS. We used the information the provider sent to us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us with key information about the service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection-

We spoke with four people who used the service, four shared live carers, one relative, one shared lives scheme worker and the registered manager.

We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care records, including medications records if required. We looked at four SLC’s files in relation to approval, training and supervision. We looked at one SLS worker file in relation to recruitment and supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection –

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training information, quality assurance records and business development plans.

Updated 6 March 2020

About the service

Harrow Shared Lives (HSL) is a shared lives scheme which provides people with long-term placements, short breaks and respite care, within shared lives carers (SLC) own homes. HSL is providing personal care to 35 people who have a learning disability, autism or a mental illness. Care is provided by 34 approved carers.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People who used the service told us they were safe with their Shared Live Carers (SLC) and SLC’s told us that staff from Harrow Shared Live Scheme (HSLS) were supportive and visited regularly to update risk assessments and risk management plans. HSLS visits SLC’s regularly to undertake health and safety checks which ensures people who used the service lived in a safe environment.

SLC’s had access to a wide range of training and met regularly with the registered manager and HSLS staff to discuss areas of concern and share changes as well as updates. People who used the service told us that meals were very good, and mealtimes were a social occasion. People who used the service told us that they felt part of the SLC’s family. People who used the service received varied support to access external health care services from their SLC or a relative. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and SLC’s supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People who used the service told us that their SLC’s were kind, respectful and caring. They told us that they felt part of the family and shared similar interests and hobbies. SLC’s demonstrated clear understanding of how to maintain people’s dignity, treated them with respect and ensured their privacy.

People who used the service had detailed person centred care plans, which were also provided in formats accessible to people. For example, some care plans were in larger prints, while other care plans used pictures and symbols instead of words. People who used the service were confident in raising concerns with the SLC or HSLS. SLC and HSLS staff told us that complaints were a positive way to make improvements to the quality of care provided.

People who used the service and SLC spoke highly about the registered manager. They told us that the registered manager was approachable and supportive. HSLS carried out various quality assurance audits, to ensure the quality of care was maintained and improvement can be made.

The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.

The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection (and update) - The last rating for this service was Good (published 27 September 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.