Shared Lives

On this page

• Overview
• Assessing needs
• Delivering evidence-based care and treatment
• How staff, teams and services work together
• Supporting people to live healthier lives
• Monitoring and improving outcomes
• Consent to care and treatment

Effective – this means we looked for evidence that people’s care, treatment and support achieved good outcomes and promoted a good quality of life, based on best available evidence. This is the first assessment for this service. This key question has been rated Good. This meant people’s outcomes were consistently good, and people’s feedback confirmed this

This service scored 75 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

The provider made sure people’s care and treatment was effective by assessing and reviewing their health, care, wellbeing and communication needs with them. Prior to being placed with the service, an assessment was undertaken involving the individual, wherever appropriate, and relevant others including family and professionals. Support plan reviews were conducted annually to ensure support plans and risk assessments remained accurate and reflective of the person's current needs and circumstances. Shared lives workers took account of the views of the person, their Shared Lives carer, relatives and other professionals where this was relevant or required. Needs were reviewed and considered holistically, health needs, communication needs, spiritual and social needs, amongst others. Phased introductions were arranged with those seeking a home and care staff to guide relationship building and ensure the placements are the right fit for people using the service.

The provider planned and delivered people’s care and treatment with them, including what was important and mattered to them. They did this in line with legislation and current evidence-based good practice and standards. The provider ensured that at the assessment stage preplacement individuals were encouraged to share what mattered to them, their preferences, any goals or outcomes they wanted to achieve. This was then fed into support planning to support people in a way that best suited them. Care and treatment for various individuals' specific health needs were managed with evidence-based treatment as part of an integrated approach jointly with district nursing teams, diabetic nursing teams and general practitioners.

The provider worked well across teams and services to support people. They made sure people only needed to tell their story once by sharing their assessment of needs when people moved between different services. A strong working relationship was evidenced throughout support planning and delivery, showing that the service worked closely with other local teams and organisations to ensure the best outcomes for people using the service, such as GP’s, social workers and district nurses. Clear ongoing communication, between Shared Lives Nottingham, and these services were present within people individual care plans. For example, records of contact and appointment were present for a person’s General practitioner.

The provider supported people to manage their health and wellbeing to maximise their independence, choice, and control. Shared lives carers supported people to live healthier lives and where possible, reduce their future needs for care and support. Support plans evidenced people had access to health care professionals. Shared lives carers contacted relevant professionals when required, whether this be for a change in their health or to manage ongoing conditions such as anxiety, and supported people with access to their GP and hospital appointments.

The provider routinely monitored people’s care and treatment to continuously improve it. They ensured outcomes were positive and consistent, and they met both clinical expectations and the expectations of people themselves. Support plans were reviewed and updated to reflect any changes to care and support. Case notes and records were completed to monitor people’s health and wellbeing. Systems were in place for shared lives carers to notify the office of any changes or concerns, to ensure these could be followed up immediately. People and their shared lives carers confirmed reviews took place and they could contact the office and registered manager with ease. People had a regular review of their care needs. This included regular check-ins from shared lives social workers and community care officers, with people and their shared lives carers to discuss any concerns and issues with their wellbeing. This gave the provider the opportunity to respond and support improvements. A carer said, “All the staff at this company are responsive to our needs."

The provider told people about their rights around consent and respected these when delivering person-centred care and treatment. People’s support plans recorded their agreement to receive care and support and contained information from people about their wishes and choice about their care which was respected. The approach to their care being proactive in ensuring their day to day lives centred around their needs. For example, religious needs being met by ensuring they are housed with a person who will facilitate this in their home. Records showed us where assessments demonstrated a person was unable to make a specific decision, a capacity assessment had been completed, and best interest decisions were made with the involvement of the person, shared lives carers, family where appropriate and appropriate health or care professionals.