The Care Quality Commission
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Archived: Guideposts Trust Shared Lives Scheme

Suite 24 Central House, High Street, Ongar, Essex, CM5 9AA (01277) 366455

Provided and run by:
Guideposts Trust Limited

Important: This service is now registered at a different address - see new profile

All Inspections

21 December 2015

During an inspection of this service

21 October 2013

During a routine inspection

We spoke with three shared lives care workers. They told us they were very satisfied with the support they were provided with by the management team. One person said, 'The managers and I have a really good relationship, they keep in regular touch by email and they always come out to see [person's name] when they are with me on respite care.' Another person told us, 'The managers are very quick at responding with guidance and advice; it means I always feel supported with any issues that arise.'

People who used the service told us they would be totally comfortable to approach the management team if they had any concerns over the service provided. They told us they were confident that the management team would listen to their concerns and deal with them appropriately and in a timely manner.

We found that record management within the offices of Guideposts Trust Shared Lives Scheme was robust and ensured that people's records were accurate and maintained securely. Carer families we spoke with told us they maintained paperwork in locked facilities in their homes to promote the confidentiality of people who used the service and that the management team regularly monitored this area of practice.

29 November 2012

During a routine inspection

We spoke with relatives of people who used the service of Guideposts Trust and their shared lives care workers. Care workers told us they were satisfied with the support they were provided with. One person said, "I seldom hear from the office, they know I am perfectly capable to manage. If I did have a problem I was struggling to resolve, for example with Social Services, I would contact Guideposts and they would resolve it.' Another person said, 'I don't need them often but it is comforting to know they are there. What would happen to young people leaving the care system if Guideposts Trust were not in existence?'

Responses from recent carers' surveys showed that the respondents were happy with the service provided by Guideposts Trust Shared Lives. People said that they found the care workers to be "Kind, caring and professional".

Care workers with whom we spoke subsequent to our site visit to the office of Guideposts Trust Shared Lives confirmed that the organisation placed the person using the service at the centre of their operation. One person told us, "The care and support is completely driven by [person's name], Guideposts really listened to them during the development of the care and support plan and were very helpful supporting [person's name] with housing benefits and other benefit entitlements."

Care workers had a good awareness of the importance of keeping people safe and they understood their responsibilities for reporting any concerns regarding abuse.