Background to this inspection
Updated
14 September 2016
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
This was an announced inspection and took place on 27 July 2016. 48 hours’ notice of the inspection was given because the service is a shared lives service and the manager is often out of the office supporting staff, Shared Lives carers or providing care. We needed to be sure that they would be in.
Before the inspection, the provider had completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We also checked notifications made to us by the provider, safeguarding alerts raised regarding people using the service and information we held on our database about the service and provider.
The inspection was carried out by one inspector.
There were 21 people using the service, two staff, three free lance needs assessors and 26 Shared Lives carers. During the inspection, we spoke with two people using the service, six relatives, one staff, eight Shared Lives carers and the registered manager.
During our visit to the office premises we looked at three copies of care plans for people who use the service. Copies of the care plans were kept in the office as well as where people were living. Information recorded included needs assessments, risk assessments and feedback from people using the service and relatives. We also looked at three Shared Lives carers files that included records of training, supervision and appraisal systems as well as quality assurance and audit documents.
Updated
14 September 2016
This was an announced inspection that took place on 27 July 2016.
The Shared Lives service is run by the London Borough of Richmond and provides support and care for people with learning disabilities, autism, dementia or who are vulnerable. The support takes place in the scheme's Shared Lives carers homes and the community. This can be for respite or longer term care. The service is located in the Twickenham area.
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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
At the previous inspection on 4 December 2013, the scheme was compliant with the standards inspected. At this inspection the regulations were met.
People and their relatives told us they were very satisfied with the service provided. The activities and tasks took place in a way people liked and enjoyed. They felt safe and the Shared Lives carers and staff team supported them well. They thought the service provided was safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led.
The records covered all aspects of the care and support people received and were kept up to date. Peoples’ choices were recorded, their needs identified and met. The support plans were complete, and regularly reviewed. The information enabled Shared Lives carers and staff to provide the service people needed.
The staff knew the people using the service and Shared Lives carers providing it well and this enabled them to provide support to people and those providing it. Everyone providing support worked well as a team and provided care and support in a professional, friendly and effective way. This was focussed on the individual and staff and Shared Lives carers had appropriate skills to do so. They were well trained, knowledgeable and accessible to people using the service and their relatives.
Staff and Shared Lives carers said they enjoyed their work and that the manager provided the support they needed. They also had access to good training that enabled them to carry out their roles.
People and their relatives were encouraged to discuss health and other needs with office staff, Shared Lives carers and had agreed information passed on to GP’s and other community based health professionals, as appropriate. Shared Lives carers and staff protected people from nutrition and hydration associated risks by monitoring what they ate and drank if required. They gave advice about healthy food options and balanced diets whilst still providing meals that people enjoyed.
The staff knew about the Mental Capacity Act and their responsibilities regarding it.
People told us the manager was approachable, responsive, encouraged feedback and frequently monitored and assessed the quality of the service provided.