We carried out a review of the data available to us about Birmingham Shared Lives on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Birmingham Shared Lives, you can give feedback on this service.
Birmingham Shared Lives is a shared lives scheme which provides people with long-term placements, short breaks and respite care, within shared lives carers (SLC) own homes. There were 67 people using the service at the time of the inspection.
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
People told us they were happy living with their carer and being part of a family. People told us they felt safe living with their carer. Shared lives workers and carers knew how to recognise signs of abuse or harm and what action they needed to take to keep people safe. Effective risk assessments and management plans ensured people were supported to manage risks in their daily lives.
Prospective carers were approved by an independent panel to ensure recruitment systems were robust. There was a lengthy 'matching' process which ensured people were placed with carers that had the skills to meet their needs. There were enough staff and carers to run the scheme although recruitment of further carers was underway as the provider had intentions to expand the scheme.
Carers had the support they needed to care for people. They were provided with ongoing and regular support from shared lives workers. Workers and carers had received regular training and had the skills to support the people they cared for.
People were supported to have their mental and physical healthcare needs met. Shared lives workers and carers sought and took advice from relevant health professionals when needed. 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.
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. People told us that they were supported to be independent and to take part in their chosen hobbies and interests that they enjoyed.
People's privacy, dignity and independence was promoted. People had been involved in the assessment of their care and decisions about their support needs and where they should live. People's independence was promoted.
The service was well led. Regular monitoring and auditing of care records and practice helped to maintain the quality and values of the service people received. Feedback from people, carers and shared lives workers was requested to help improve the service.
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 31 January 2017).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
Follow up: The next scheduled inspection will be in keeping with the overall rating. We will continue to monitor information we receive from and about the service. We may inspect sooner if we receive concerning information about the service.
The service recruits, trains and supports carers who provide placements for adults within their own family homes in the community. The majority of people using the service have a learning disability. A total of 71 people were being supported at the time of our inspection.
There was a registered manager in place who was present during our inspection. 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 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
Record keeping and systems to monitor and improve the quality of the service people received needed further development.
People told us that they felt safe with their carer. We spoke with shared lives workers and carers about the service's safeguarding procedures. They were all aware of the provider's safeguarding policy and how to report any potential allegations of abuse or concerns raised and were aware of the procedures to follow.
People received their medicines as prescribed. Staff knew how to dispense medication safely and there were regular checks to make sure this had been done properly.
There was a staffing structure in place that ensured that there was enough shared lives workers to support the role of the shared lives carers. Regular meetings took place with carers and workers so that there was an opportunity to learn and share good practice.
All the people we spoke with told us that they liked where they were living and that they were well cared for. People told us that they were supported to be independent and to take part in their chosen hobbies and interests that they enjoyed.
Shared lives carers told us that they had received the support and training they needed to carry out their role. Robust procedures and systems were in place to ensure that people who used the scheme were supported by carers who were suitable for their role. Shared lives workers told us that they had received the support they needed to carry out their role.
Meals times were promoted as a sociable and pleasant experience. People were kept safe from malnutrition because they were offered a choice of foods and drinks they liked. Carers knew how to support people to eat and drink enough to keep them well.
People were supported to have their mental and physical healthcare needs met. Shared lives workers and carers sought and took advice from relevant health professionals when needed.
Shared lives carers' demonstrated they understood how to support people maintain their independence and promote their dignity and privacy. People received responsive and personalised care and were involved in planning their support.
People had access to a complaints system and the registered manager responded appropriately to concerns.
We found that systems were in place for Shared Lives workers to follow so that assessment and monitoring of carers and the shared lives placement took place. Regular meetings took place with carers and workers so that there was an opportunity to learn and share good practice.
The registered manager provided staff with appropriate leadership and support. Shared lives workers and carers told us the registered manager was approachable and supportive.