Goscote Centre

Updated 10 July 2019

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

This consisted of one inspector.

Service and service type

Shared Lives is a service registered to provide personal care to people living with Shared Lives carers in a family environment.

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

This inspection was announced. We gave the service two days’ notice of the inspection site visit because we needed to be sure people using the service and carers would be available to speak with us, either in person or on the telephone.

Inspection activity started on 5 June 2019 and ended on 7 June 2019. We visited the office location on 5 June 2019.

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 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 three members of staff including the registered manager and two assistant co-ordinators. We also spoke with five shared lives carers.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records. We looked at records relating to staff and carer recruitment processes and a variety of records relating to the management of the service.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found in relation to care plans and risk assessments for two people.

Updated 10 July 2019

About the service

Goscote Centre is a shared lives service that provides care and support to people within a family environment. Approved Shared Lives Carers support adults with a learning disability or autism. People lived with their carers on a short or long-term basis depending on their needs. There was 66 people using the service at the time of the inspection. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) only inspects the regulated activity of 'personal care' being provided to people who use the service. However, we do take account of any wider social care provided.

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

Some aspects of record keeping and systems to monitor and improve the quality of the service people received needed further development. We found risks to the health and safety of people were usually fully assessed and the provider took reasonable steps to lessen such risks. People told us that they felt safe living with their carers. The provider carried out safe recruitment processes to protect people from harm.

There was a staffing structure in place that ensured there was enough staff to support the role of the shared lives carers. Regular meetings took place with carers and staff so that there was an opportunity to learn and share good practice.

Carers knew how to support people to eat and drink enough to keep them well. People were supported to have their mental and physical healthcare needs met. Shared Lives staff and carers sought and took advice from relevant health professionals when needed.

People were 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. 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.

All the people we spoke with told us they liked where they were living and they were well cared for. People were given choices and control over their care. Staff and carers protected people's privacy and dignity when supporting people. People were supported to be as independent as possible.

We found systems were in place for Shared Lives workers to follow so that assessment and monitoring of carers and the shared lives placement took place. People and their relatives knew who to contact if they had any complaints. The registered manager provided staff with appropriate leadership and support. Shared Lives staff and carers told us the registered manager was approachable and supportive.

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

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 19 December 2016). Since this rating was awarded the service has moved premises. We have used the previous rating to inform our planning and decisions about the rating at this inspection.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.