About the service Leeds Shared Lives Service is a shared lives scheme which provides people with short breaks and respite care, within shared lives carers own homes.
Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do, we also consider any wider social care provided. At the time of our inspection 21 people (referred to as customers) received personal care support.
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
Customers were protected from the risk of abuse and avoidable harm by staff and carers who understood how to recognise and respond to concerns. Staff are employed by the local authority. Carers provide short breaks and day support in their own homes. Risk assessments had been developed to minimise the potential risk of avoidable harm. Carers had suitable training to ensure customers received their medicines as prescribed. The registered manager had robust safe recruitment procedures.
Relatives were positive about the service and said carers were kind and caring. Carers were respectful when discussing customers and promoted their independence. The care and support had been planned in partnership with customers and their relatives. One relative told us, “[Shared Lives] it’s good, it works well and the carers care.”
Staff had received regular training and supervision to support them in their roles. Carers also received regular training to update their knowledge and promote best practice. Customers were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff and carers supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests.
Customers received person-centred care which was responsive to their needs. Customers' communication needs had been assessed and where support was required these had been met. The registered manager managed any concerns and complaints appropriately.
The service worked in partnership with a variety of agencies to ensure customers received all the support they needed. Relatives and carers were happy with how the service was managed. Staff felt well supported by the registered manager.
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
The last rating for this service was good (published 23 September 2017).
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.