Kirklees Shared Lives

On this page

• Overview
• Kindness, compassion and dignity
• Treating people as individuals
• Independence, choice and control
• Responding to people’s immediate needs
• Workforce wellbeing and enablement

Caring – this means we looked for evidence that the provider involved people and treated them with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.

At our last assessment we rated this key question good. At this assessment the rating has changed to outstanding. This meant people were truly respected and valued as individuals; and empowered as partners in their care in an exceptional service.
 

This service scored 90 (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 was exceptional at treating people with kindness, empathy and compassion and in how they respected people’s privacy and dignity. Staff always treated colleagues from other organisations with kindness and respect.

Carers demonstrated exceptional kindness and compassion towards people living in Shared Lives arrangements, as well as towards professionals involved in their care. A culture of dignity, respect and genuine regard for people's wellbeing was embedded throughout the service and reflected in the strong relationships developed between people and their Shared Lives carers.

The people and their Shared Lives carers lived together within the carers' family homes. During visits to 2 Shared Lives households, we observed warm, caring and respectful relationships. Carers knew people exceptionally well and demonstrated a detailed understanding of their personalities, preferences and individual needs.

Relationships were reviewed through regular monitoring visits, which considered how people felt about their placement, whether they were happy with their match and whether they felt respected and valued within the home.

We observed, and records showed, that people were treated as valued members of the family and were fully included in family life. They participated in everyday activities and were encouraged to be involved in decisions that affected them. One carer told us, "[Person] is one of the family, they are the most loved and respected member of the family. Everyone asks [Person] what they want to do. She comes to all our family meals and she is in charge."

Carers demonstrated a strong commitment to people's wellbeing and quality of life. They spoke passionately about the people they supported and showed genuine pride in their achievements and happiness. We heard examples of carers going above and beyond to ensure people experienced meaningful opportunities, maintained important relationships and received support tailored to their individual circumstances. One carer described arranging regular holidays, theatre trips, social groups and meals out based on the person’s interests, explaining, "I don't believe in them just sitting at home."

Kindness and compassion were clearly evident in the long-standing commitment shown by Shared Lives carers. In one example the carers described how they chose to provide one person with a permanent family home when adoption was not an option, even moving house to ensure they had sufficient space for them. The carers spoke warmly about the person, referring to him as "our little boy", and demonstrated a deep understanding of his complex health needs. Alongside meeting these needs, they were committed to ensuring he enjoyed a fulfilling life through regular outings, sensory activities and experiences tailored to his interests.
 

The provider treated people as individuals and was exceptional in how they made sure people’s care, support and treatment met people’s needs and preferences. The provider took account of people’s strengths, abilities, aspirations, culture and unique backgrounds and protected characteristics.

People received personalised care and support that recognised them as individuals, while also providing them with the opportunity to be part of family life. People were empowered to make choices about their lives, express their preferences and pursue interests that were important to them.

The provider recognised that treating people as individuals extended beyond meeting their health and care needs. People were supported within arrangements that reflected their personalities, interests, preferences and lifestyle choices. Information gathered about what mattered most to people was used to help identify carers with compatible values, interests and approaches, supporting the development of genuine relationships and a strong sense of belonging. The registered manager told us, " The model genuinely gives people an opportunity to feel like they belong. We need that belonging."

People were supported to maintain their individuality while being fully included in family and community life. We saw examples of people spending time with extended family members and friends of their Shared Lives carers, while also pursuing their own interests and hobbies. For example, one person had a keen interest in pool. Their carer recorded televised pool tournaments when the person was unable to watch them live and supported them to attend weekly pool sessions, ensuring they could continue to enjoy an activity that was important to them.

People were also supported to express their own identity and make choices that reflected their personal preferences. One person was supported to choose their own clothing and preferred to wear leggings and trousers rather than dresses. They enjoyed shopping for clothes, having their hair styled and visiting a salon to have their nails done. The Shared Lives carer respected these choices and supported the person to make decisions about their appearance and how they wished to present themselves.
 

The provider was exceptional at promoting people’s independence, so people knew their rights and had choice and control over their own care, treatment and wellbeing.
People were supported to develop their independence and maintain choice and control over their lives. Shared Lives carers recognised the importance of building people's confidence, developing life skills and enabling them to make decisions about matters that were important to them, while providing support when needed.
We saw strong examples of people achieving greater independence. For example, 1 person successfully completed driving lessons, passed their driving test and now owns and manages their own car. This increased their confidence, autonomy and opportunities to participate in their community.
People were encouraged to take responsibility for tasks that were important to them and develop skills which promoted independence. One person independently prepared breakfast, laundered their clothes, tidied their room and contributed to household tasks. Their Shared Lives carer provided encouragement and support while enabling them to take ownership of these activities.
People were actively involved in decisions about their lives and future support. For example, following changes of a long-term Shared Lives carer, 1 person was fully involved in choosing a new arrangement. Information was provided in an accessible format and they were supported to visit potential households, meet carers and express their preferences before deciding where they wished to live. This ensured they remained in control of a significant decision affecting their future.
People were also supported to make informed choices in ways that reflected their individual circumstances and preferences. For example, 1 person was supported to manage behaviours associated with hoarding. Their Shared Lives carer adopted a sensitive and empowering approach, encouraging the person to make decisions about their belongings at their own pace, while respecting their wishes and avoiding unnecessary pressure.
Feedback and records consistently demonstrated that people were encouraged to express their views, make choices and exercise control over their day-to-day lives. As a result, people developed confidence, maintained their independence and achieved outcomes that reflected their individual goals, preferences and aspirations.
 

The provider listened to and understood people’s needs, views and wishes. Staff responded to people’s needs in the moment and acted to minimise any discomfort, concern or distress.

People received responsive care and support that reflected their changing needs and circumstances. Shared Lives carers knew people exceptionally well and were able to identify when additional support, intervention or healthcare input was required. Their detailed understanding of people's usual presentations enabled them to recognise changes at an early stage and respond promptly.
Carers took timely action to support people's health and wellbeing needs. For example, when concerns were identified regarding 1 person's hearing, they were supported to access an assessment and were subsequently provided with a hearing aid. This improved the person's wellbeing and ability to engage in day-to-day activities.
We saw particularly strong examples of carers responding to complex and evolving health needs. One person required extensive support to manage multiple long-term health conditions, including diabetes, epilepsy and gastrointestinal conditions. Their Shared Lives carers demonstrated an in-depth understanding of the person's health needs and were able to recognise subtle signs of deterioration, including changes that could indicate infection, internal bleeding or the need for further medical intervention. Carers worked closely with healthcare professionals, followed detailed care plans and physiotherapy programmes, and adapted support arrangements in response to changing needs.
Records and feedback demonstrated that carers consistently acted on concerns without delay and sought professional advice when required. Their proactive approach and detailed knowledge of people's individual needs helped ensure potential issues were identified and addressed at an early stage. As a result, people experienced continuity of support, improved health outcomes and a reduced risk of avoidable deterioration, enabling them to maintain their wellbeing and quality of life.
 

The provider cared about and promoted the wellbeing of their staff, and supported and enabled staff to always deliver person-centred care.
Carers were extremely happy working as Shared Lives carers and consistently spoke positively about the support and guidance they received from the provider. Carers valued the joint social networking events and appreciated the support provided by respite carers, which enabled them to take breaks from their caring role.

Carers told us they felt comfortable seeking advice when needed. One carer said, "They are so friendly and if I have issues, they resolve them within the hour and back me up on everything." Another carer told us they felt comfortable raising concerns and could easily contact the scheme for support.

Carers also spoke positively about regular monitoring visits, which provided opportunities to discuss any concerns, review their role and receive ongoing guidance from the scheme. This helped carers feel supported and confident in their role.

Feedback demonstrated carers felt part of a wider Shared Lives community. They valued opportunities to meet with other carers through networking events and share experiences and learning with their peers. This helped reduce isolation and promoted carers' wellbeing.