Archived: Wiltshire Council Shared Lives Service

Updated 5 September 2017

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This inspection took place on 19 July 2017 and was announced. The provider was given 48 hours’ notice because we wanted to make sure the manager would be available to support our inspection, or someone who could act on their behalf.

The inspection was completed by one Inspector. Before the inspection, we reviewed notifications and any other information we had received since the last inspection. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law.

We used a number of different methods to help us understand the experiences of people who used the service. This included talking to people, their shared lives carers and looking at documents and records that related to people’s support and care and the management of the service.

We visited Wiltshire Council Shared Lives Service’s office on the 19 July 2017. After the inspection we contacted people and their shared lives carers to get their feedback on the service. We spoke with three people and five shared lives carers. We also spoke with a shared lives officer, the manager and received feedback from two health and social care professionals who have worked with the service.

Updated 5 September 2017

Wiltshire Council Shared Lives Service provides care or support to people who are unable to live in a home of their own, but who live alongside other people in a family-like setting. Services provided were for adults who may have a range of needs including people with learning disabilities, people with acquired head injuries, older people and people who use mental health services. At the time of our inspection 32 people were using the service.

This was an announced inspection which meant the provider knew we would be visiting. This was because we wanted to make sure the manager would be available to support our inspection, or someone who could act on their behalf.

There was a service manager in post, who has applied to the CQC to be the registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered 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.

At the last inspection in August 2014, the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

People and their shared lives carers spoke positively about the support they received from Wiltshire Council Shared Lives Service. Health and Social Care professionals who worked alongside the service told us the manager and staff were responsive and knew people and their carers well.

People told us they felt safe living with their shared lives carers and they were always available to help them. Comments included “Yes I do, it’s a lovely home. They [carers] are always here to help” and “I am very happy”.

People were kept safe because systems were in place reducing the risks of harm and potential abuse. Shared lives carers and placement officers had all received safeguarding training, and were aware of their responsibilities in reporting concerns, and the concerns of those they supported.

Risk assessments were in place to support people to be as independent as possible. These protected people and supported them to maintain their freedom.

People were protected by a safe recruitment system. All shared lives carers experienced a thorough approval process before being able to provide support to someone. This included an interview by an independent approval panel consisting of a range of professionals and a person using the shared lives service.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. Shared lives carers and officers had a good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

People received effective care and support from well supported and trained shared lives carers. There was a thorough induction programme which all carers undertook before being able to support people.

Positive caring relationship had developed between people and their shared live carer. People were supported to achieve their potential and gain independent living skills. People had opportunities to take part in activities within their home as well as out in the community. People told us they felt part of the family home.

People, shared lives carers, staff and professionals working alongside the service, all spoke positively about the management of the service. They all said the manager was approachable and very supportive. The manager was keen on raising the service’s profile and to be able to recruit more carers to enable them to offer more placements to people.

We have made a recommendation about the service reviewing their systems of checking people’s financial management.