Shared Lives Hertfordshire

Updated 11 July 2019

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. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team:

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type:

Ware Road Day Centre [Shared Lives] supports people with a range of disabilities and ages to live as part of a family unit within a domestic home. People are matched with approved carers known as ‘Shared lives carers’ (SLC). The scheme offers long-term and short-term placements with SLC.

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 the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection visit because we needed to be sure the registered manager was available to support the inspection.

Inspection site visit activity started on 23 May 2019 and ended on 31 May 2019. We visited the office location on 23 May 2019 to speak with the registered manager and office staff. Between 23 May and 31 May 2019 we sought further feedback from two shared lives carers and three healthcare professionals by telephone.

What we did:

Prior to the inspection we requested and received a Provider Information Return (PIR). Providers are required to send us key information about their service, what they do well and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections.

We reviewed statutory notifications the service is required to send us. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law.

We spoke with the registered manager, two office staff and two shared lives carers. We reviewed two people’s care records, and records relating to the management of the service.

Updated 11 July 2019

About the service:

Ware Road Day Centre [Shared Lives] supports adults with a learning disability. The scheme supports people to live within a shared lives arrangement with a shared lives carer as a part of their home and family.

At the time of the inspection five people were receiving the regulated activity of personal care.

People’s experience of using this service:

Shared lives carers told us people were happy with their shared lives arrangement. One said, “Having [Person] as part of our family has been a fantastic experience. They are one of us and we see them as a [relative].” People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People were safely cared for by Shared lives carers and staff who knew how to identify when they may be at risk of harm. The arrangement ensured their daily support needs were met by a consistent shared lives carer. People were supported by shared lives carers who had gone through a robust recruitment, selection and matching process. Where people had their medicines managed for them this was done is a safe manner and given when they needed them. Risks to people’s health and welfare were identified, responded to and both staff and shared lives carers knew how to manage those risks safely.

Staff and shared lives carers told us they felt supported by the registered manager. People’s consent was sought prior to care being provided, and legal requirements were met when people were unable to provide their own consent. People and the shared lives carer were matched through a robust assessment prior to the placement commencing. People were supported by a range of health professionals and were able to freely access healthcare appointments when needed.

People were encouraged to be as independent as they could be and staff and shared lives carers listened to their views and opinions. Staff and shared lives carers demonstrated a passionate and empathic approach when talking about the people they supported.

People received care that met their needs, preferences and choices. People were encouraged to engage in meaningful activities and participate in a range of community activities. Where appropriate people were supported to seek work, join clubs, colleges etc. Shared lives carers felt able to raise concerns or complaints with staff or the registered manager.

The registered manager and provider had systems in place to monitor the quality of the service provided. The office staff maintained regular contact with people and their shared lives carers to monitor the quality of care provided. The registered manager was in the process of developing a network where they could receive regular feedback from people and shared lives carers.

Rating at last inspection:

This service was registered with us on 20/04/2018 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected:

This was a planned comprehensive inspection.

Follow up:

We will continue to monitor the service to ensure that people receive safe, compassionate, high quality care. If we receive information that suggests people may not be receiving high quality care we may inspect sooner.