3 December 2014
During a routine inspection
The inspection visit took place on 3 December 2014 and was followed up by phone calls to volunteers, young people who used the service and their parents or guardians. The inspection was announced, with two days’ notice.
Share A Family provides support to children and young people aged 0-19 years with a range of disabilities by matching them with volunteers (known as ‘link workers’) who take them out to activities or provide a home sitting service. At the time of our inspection the service was providing this one-to-one support for 12 children and young people. All of them lived within the London Borough of Wandsworth. The frequency, duration and type of support depended on the individual needs of the child or young person and their family. Most volunteers met with the child or young person once or twice a month for a half day activity of the child or young person’s choosing.
The service also runs regular monthly clubs for children and young people with disabilities arranged according to age (0-8 years; 9-12 years; 12-18 years). These clubs are not subject to registration with the Care Quality Commission and, therefore, were not inspected, but most of the children and young people who received one-to-one support also attended a club and many of the link workers volunteered with the clubs as well.
Share A Family is a voluntary organisation of 34 years standing. It is contracted to provide this service by a local authority and no charge is made to families who use the service. It underwent some restructuring in 2013 as the result of a re-tendering process and uncertainty about its future led to a dip in activity. However, the service had been recruiting volunteers throughout 2014.
A registered manager was in post. 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.
We found that the service was meeting all the regulations. Parents spoke well of the service received. Staff kept up-to-date with best practice through extensive networking with other organisations. Volunteers were thoroughly vetted to ensure they were safe to work one-to-one with children and young people and received an induction and attended an annual update. Their strengths and interests were taken into account when matching them with children and young people on the waiting list.
Children and young people’s needs were assessed prior to the match taking place. Activities were arranged which were stimulating and enjoyable. Plans were in place to manage any foreseeable risks. Staff kept in touch with volunteers and families, particularly during the first three months of the match taking place. Volunteers received training and there were appropriate policies and procedures in place to guide both them and staff.