We carried out a review of the data available to us about Portsmouth Shared Lives Service 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 Portsmouth Shared Lives Service, you can give feedback on this service.
Portsmouth Shared Lives Service is a shared lives scheme which provides people with long-term placements, short breaks and respite care, within shared lives carers own homes. This type of service provides care and support with emphasis on providing an ordinary family life within the community. There were 46 people being supported at the time of the inspection. However, 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 five people were being supported with a personal care.
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 received support that was person centred and reflected their individual needs. People were fully involved in making decisions relating to their care and support needs. People had time to get to know potential shared lives carers before a decision about any placement was made.
People were supported to be safe. Risk assessments were completed for people and they were supported to manage risks in their home environment, to ensure safety. The provider had a policy and procedure for safeguarding adults and the registered manager and staff understood their responsibilities.
Where people required support with their medicines, they received them on time and correctly. Staff worked with the local health professionals and pharmacies to ensure people had the right medicine and health support at the right times.
The provider used a values-based recruitment process, which encouraged a diverse range of shared lives carers with varying skills and backgrounds. They considered shared lives carers and staff members ability to provide person centred care and meet people’s human rights. There were robust processes in place to ensure only suitable staff and shared lives carers were recruited.
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 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.
Shared lives staff and carers had received appropriate and varied training, that supported them to carry out their role safely. They received regular supervision to help develop their skills and assist them in their role.
People told us they were happy living with their shared lives carers and felt valued and cared for. There was a complaints process that people could follow if they needed to.
People were involved in the development of personalised support plans that were reviewed regularly. Shared lives carers knew people well and were skilled in delivering their care in the way they preferred. This ensured people’s preferred routines were met.
There was a clearly defined management structure and regular oversight and input from the provider’s representative. The registered manager and shared lives staff carried out regular checks on the quality and safety of the service. Shared lives carers and staff felt supported by the provider and registered manager and told us they felt valued.
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 30 August 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.
Shared Lives is a service provided by Portsmouth City Council that recruits and supports individuals, couples or families to provide family-based accommodation and personal care to vulnerable adults. The emphasis is on providing an ordinary family life within the community. The Shared Lives office is located in Portsmouth and at the time of our inspection provided care to approximately 50 people in 40 households across the Portsmouth area. Four shared lives officers, an administrator and a registered manager supported the running of the service.
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 on 6 August 2014, the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the service remained Good.
People told us they felt safe living in their homes. Shared lives carers gave good examples of how to protect people from abuse and avoidable harm and how to report their concerns if required. The provider supported carers with refresher safeguarding training every three years and robust safeguarding processes were in place for officers and carers to refer to if needed. There were enough carers employed to support people safely and safe recruitment practices were followed to ensure staff were suitable to work in a care setting. The service safely managed to support people with their medicines and robust training was provided.
People were supported by shared lives carers and officers who had acquired the appropriate skills and knowledge to care for them effectively. Whilst there were some gaps in annual refresher training, the service continued to monitor and invite carers to attend for their training and this was being managed well. The provider supported shared lives carers and officers with regular supervision and annual appraisal. People were supported and encouraged to access health and social care services when required and carers ensured that people maintained a balanced healthy diet. The service was aware of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 and staff applied the principles of this in everyday practice. Carers told us that they sought consent before assisting people with personal care.
People were supported by staff who knew them well. Staff had been able to develop compassionate, caring relationships with people they had cared for over long periods of time. People were actively encouraged to contribute to decisions about their care and support by shared lives officers and carers. People’s dignity and privacy was respected and they were supported to maintain their independence wherever possible.
Support plans were detailed and personalised and care was provided in accordance with people’s needs and preferences. When people’s needs changed, plans were altered to reflect this. Regular reviews were held of the support provided, to ensure that plans continued to meet the needs of the person. There was a complaints process in operation that was dealt with effectively and in a timely manner.
The service promoted a transparent and supportive culture which was cultivated by the registered manager. Staff were passionate about the service they provided. People told us they felt able to discuss any concerns with their shared lives carers and shared lives officers and they would be listened to, with satisfactory action taken to address any issues. Quality audits were completed and feedback from people was sought to ensure the service continued to monitor the safe and effective running of the service and address any areas for improvement if any were identified.