Background to this inspection
Updated
16 December 2022
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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.
Inspection team
The inspection was carried out by one inspector and an Expert 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.
Service and service type
Durham Shared Lives is a shared lives scheme. They recruit, train and support self-employed shared lives carers (known as providers) who offer accommodation and support arrangements for vulnerable adults within their own family homes in the community.
Registered Manager
This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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.
At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.
Notice of inspection
We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because the registered manager and support managers were not always office-based; we needed to be sure someone was available to meet us at the registered office.
Inspection activity started on 13 July 2022 and ended on 11 August 2022. We visited the location’s office on 13 July and 9 August 2022.
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 (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with 13 people who used the service and 2 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 5 members of staff including the registered manager, 3 support managers and 1 monitoring support officer. We also sought feedback from providers and relatives via email. We received 17 responses from providers and 5 responses from relatives.
We reviewed a range of records. This included 6 people's care records. We looked at 8 provider files in relation to recruitment and other records regarding provider training and monitoring. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.
Updated
16 December 2022
About the service
Durham Shared Lives Scheme 1 DL15 9ES (known as Durham Shared Lives) is a shared lives scheme which provides people with long-term placements, short breaks and respite care, within shared lives carers’ own homes. The service provides support to younger and older people living with a learning disability and/or mental health needs. Shared lives carers (known as providers) were supported by the registered manager and a team of support managers.
Ninety one people were using the service when we inspected, all of whom received personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where people receive personal care, we also consider any wider social care provided.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
We expect health and social care registered providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.
Right Support
People were supported to exceed their goals and aspirations so they could become more independent and confident. Providers were totally focused on people's strengths and promoted what they could do, which enabled people to lead exceptionally fulfilling and meaningful lives. Providers went ‘the extra mile’ to respect people's choices and wherever possible, accommodate their wishes, including those relevant to protected characteristics.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and providers 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 regularly asked for their opinions and were involved in discussions about their care and support. Providers gave people information in a way they understood and communicated with them in a way that met people’s individual needs. Providers supported people to take part in activities and pursue their interests. Providers supported people to play an active role in maintaining their own health and wellbeing. People were supported safely with medicines. Infection prevention and control practices reflected good practice.
Right Care
People received care which was exceptionally compassionate and kind, which had an extremely positive impact on people’s wellbeing. People were cared for in a way which exceeded expectations and clearly demonstrated how valued people and those important to them were. People were treated like members of providers' families, which made them feel exceptionally valued.
Providers understood how to protect people from poor care and abuse. Providers had completed safeguarding training and knew how to report concerns. Providers were confident any concerns would be handled appropriately by the registered manager.
Providers knew people’s individual needs well, particularly how to communicate with people in an appropriate way. Providers supported people to be independent without compromising their safety.
Right Culture
People’s wishes, needs and rights were at the heart of the service’s culture. Providers demonstrated an exceptionally person-centred approach and continuously sought to protect and promote people’s rights. The registered manager led by example to promote this.
There were robust systems and processes to help ensure people received safe and effective care. Providers worked closely with people's families and health and social care professionals to identify and meet people's needs.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was good (published 16 August 2018).
In October 2019 the provider applied to CQC to make a change to their registration, when they moved the registered office to the current location. Durham County Council remains the registered provider for this service.
Why we inspected
This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.