Shared Lives

Updated 3 January 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

One inspector carried out this inspection.

Service and service type

Shared Lives Gateshead 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 we needed to be sure the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

Inspection activity started on 14 November 2019 and ended on 2 December 2019. We visited the office location on 2 December 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 seven people who used the service and five relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with seven shared lives carers and five other staff including senior managers, the provider, registered manager, a senior care worker and a support worker. We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and multiple medicine records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

Updated 3 January 2020

About the service

Shared Lives Gateshead provides personal care to 80 people with a learning disability at the time of the inspection.

Shared Lives Gateshead is a shared lives scheme which provides people with long-term placements, short breaks and respite care, within shared lives carers (SLC) own homes.

The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

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

People received good care, from a kind and caring team of shared lives carers.

People and carers said the service was safe. Shared lives carers knew how to report safeguarding and whistle blowing concerns. They confirmed they felt confident to do so. The provider recruited new shared lives carers safely. People received their medicines when they were due. The service logged and investigated incidents and accidents.

Training was up to date and shared lives carers received good support. Shared lives carers supported people to have enough to eat and drink and to access healthcare services.

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

The service fully assessed people’s needs which formed the basis for developing personalised care plans. Shared lives carers supported people to follow a wide range of activities and attend events. The provider investigated complaints fully; although these were not directly related to the care provided.

The provider had worked with stakeholders to improve the quality assurance processes. These were now effective in identifying areas for improvement and learning lessons. People, relatives and carers described the registered manager as supportive and approachable. People could provide feedback about the service; their views were listened to and acted on.

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 requires improvement (published 15 November 2018). The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

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.