20 April 2016
During a routine inspection
Shared Lives Southend is registered to provide personal care to adults with learning disabilities in the Southend on Sea area. They provide a range of support options including long term placements, respite placements, emergency placements, transitional placements, holidays and day care support. There were 39 people using the service at the time of this inspection however, five of these people required support with personal care.
There was a registered manager 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.
People received their support in a way that ensured their safety and welfare. There were sufficient numbers of Shared Lives (SL) carers who had been safely recruited, were well trained and supported to meet people’s assessed needs. People received their medication as prescribed and there were safe systems in place for monitoring medication practice.
The registered manager, Shared Lives (SL) worker and SL carers had a good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS).
Shared Lives (SL) carers had a good understanding of how to protect people from the risk of harm. They had been trained and had access to guidance and information to support them with the process. Risks to people’s health and safety had been assessed and the service had service user plans and risk assessments in place to ensure people were cared for safely.
People had sufficient amounts to eat and drink to meet their individual needs. People’s care needs had been assessed and their service user plans provided SL carers with the information needed to meet people’s needs and preferences and to care for them safely. People’s healthcare needs were monitored and SL carers sought advice and guidance from healthcare professionals when needed.
Shared Lives (SL) carers were kind and caring and knew the people they cared for well. They ensured that people’s privacy and dignity was maintained at all times. People expressed their views and opinions and they participated in activities and interests of their choosing. Advocacy service were available and in use where people needed support to express their views.
People were confident that their concerns or complaints would be listened to and acted upon. The registered manager provided Shared Lives (SL) carers with very good information and contact details together with links to external organisations to ensure that the service continually improved. There was an effective quality assurance system in place to monitor the service and to drive improvements.