Shared Lives Scheme

Updated 7 April 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

There was one inspector in the inspection team.

Service and service type

Shared Lives Coventry 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.

Notice of inspection

We gave a short period notice of the inspection because some of the people using it could not consent to a home visit from an inspector. This meant that we had to arrange for a ‘best interests’ decision about this.

What we did before the inspection

The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their 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 five people who used the service and two relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with five members of staff and registered manager. We also spoke with four people who host placements as well a health and social care professional.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and multiple medication records.

After the inspection

We spoke with a further social care professional by telephone. The professional was a Principle Social Worker for the local authority and Chaired the Adult Social Care Practice Development Forum and was contacted to seek their views on how people were supported. We also spoke with a Palliative Care Nurse.

Updated 7 April 2020

About the service

Coventry Shared Lives is a shared lives scheme which provides people with long-term placements, short breaks and respite care, within shared lives carers (SLC) own homes. Approximately 80 people were on a placement through the scheme.

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

People’s needs and wishes was central to people’s care. Staff went beyond what was expected and went the extra mile to help support people to plan, review and achieve their ambitions. People were supported to consider options that went beyond their expectations. People’s placements opened new opportunities and gave people a second chance which they grasped and maximised. People’s continuous dialogue with staff ensured the success of placements which meant people were happy and did not need to complain. People’s cultural and religious needs were embedded into placements. People’s links with family and friends were strengthened.

Staff and people believed in the service and staff which demonstrated it exceptionally well led and this openness and belief ran through the service. Staff commitment to achieve team goals and the best outcomes for people meant they worked creatively and empowered people to believe that anything was possible. Staff worked with other stakeholders to help realise people’s ambitions.

People felt safe in their placements. Staff understood how to safeguard people and keep them free from harm. Risks to people’s health were known to staff and staff worked to help further risks to the person. Processes were in place to recruit people safely. Staff received training to support people with medicines. Practices were challenged in order that people received care that was safe.

People supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People were supported to access healthy lifestyles and any support they needed from healthcare professionals. People were encouraged to feel at home in their placements. People’s needs were well understood as they were involved in the assessment process and further reviews. People spoke glowingly about their hosts and the staff supporting them.

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.

Rating at last inspection:

The last rating for this service was Good. The report was published on 19 July 2017

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