Shared Lives Scheme (West Sussex County Council)

Ratings

• Overall

  Good

• Safe

  Good

• Effective

  Good

• Caring

  Good

• Responsive

  Good

• Well-led

  Good

Our view of the service

Assessment activity started on 29 August 2024 and ended on 20 September 2024. A visit to the office took place on 29 August 2024. We looked at all 5 key questions and in detail at 12 quality statements. West Sussex Shared Lives is registered to provide personal care and support. Of the 117 people supported by West Sussex Shared Lives, 55 people are in receipt of personal care. The service offers long term and short-term arrangements for adults who have a learning disability and autistic people. People had access to 'day share' facility, where they could go to a shared lives carer for the day. The provider is responsible for ensuring shared lives carers are provided with the appropriate knowledge, skills and support to undertake this role. The provider employs Shared Lives workers to carry out this role. For most people independence was promoted as far as possible, however for some people this could be developed further. Registered managers were addressing the areas to improve. Risks to people are effectively managed. Accidents and incidents are recorded and investigated and both shared lives carers and shared lives workers receive training and demonstrated understanding of their role in safeguarding. meaning people are safe. Assessment was carefully planned with people at the centre. Shared lives carers are subject to a robust process before they can support people. They continue to receive ongoing monitoring and supervision, something shared lives carers told us they valued. The culture of the service supports positive and open conversations, and the general governance and monitoring is effective in addressing issues at early stages. We have assessed the service against ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ (RS,RC,RC) guidance to make judgements about whether the provider guaranteed people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted.

People's experience of this service

We found people were being supported in line with the RSRCRC guidance. People told us they felt safe with their shared lives carers and enjoyed their lives. There were systems in place where people had a range of opportunities to talk about how they felt and any changes they wanted to make to the registered managers and shared lives workers.