We inspected the service on 10, 12 and 17 September 2018. We gave notice of our visit as we needed to be sure someone would be available at the office for us to talk to.Shared Lives Gateshead is a local authority run service, which arranges accommodation and support for people with disabilities who are unable to live independently. This support is provided by suitably qualified shared lives carers (carers), who provide care and accommodation from their own home. The service offers both long term accommodation and a short-break service. Another support option is offered via ‘Hour Lives’ which is day-time flexible support. This flexible option allows carers to support people living in their own homes and out in the community. At the time of our inspection, 64 people received flexible support and 17 people received long-term support.
Shared Lives Gateshead has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.
The service has a registered manager in place. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to manage the service. Like providers, they are 'registered persons'. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
The service is supported by the registered manager, three shared lives workers and one senior shared lives worker, (link workers). Link workers are employed by the provider to provide support and guidance to carers. Up until recently, and for a period of time prior to this inspection, the provider did not have a full complement of shared lives link workers in post.
People we spoke with told us they felt safe living with their carers. Link workers and carers had received training in safeguarding practices. However, the inspection identified shortfalls in training for a number of carers, this training included safeguarding, fire training, food hygiene and mental capacity. Additionally, due to a lack of link worker availability, bi-monthly supervision of carers had not been completed.
The provider had a robust recruitment and approval process in place which culminated in a process which very carefully matched people with their carers.
People were supported to lead their lives to the maximum and to be as independent as possible. Life goals were discussed with people and evidence reviewed supported how well people were working towards achieving those goals.
When we spoke to carers it was clear to see that good bonds and relationships were in place. One person we spoke with told us, “I love living with [Carer]. I used to come here for short-breaks, but I live here all the time now, it’s much better.”
Prior to people living with their carers, a full assessment was carried out regarding their needs. Care plans included a document named ‘All about Me’ and this document included people’s likes/dislikes, what was important to them and how carers should care for them.
The registered manager attended regular shared lives meetings with other local shared lives providers in order to share best practice and to reflect on lessons learnt. The provider is also part of a larger network of shared lives services, (Shared Lives Partnership) and they attended this conference which is held each year. A review of the provider’s documents showed that no formal analysis was in place in relation to accidents and incidents. Additionally, there was a lack of oversight regarding the monitoring of quality and assurance of care delivered. This was due to home visits that had not been carried out by link workers for a number of carers.
At the last inspection in 2016 we rated this service as Good. At this inspection we rated the provider as Requires Improvement. This is the first time the service has been rated as Requires Improvement.
We found one breach in regulation and this was in relation to staffing.
You can see what action we told the provider to take at the back of the full version of the report.