Archived: PSS Shared Lives Wirral

Updated 30 June 2018

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check 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 inspection took place on 12 April 2018 and was announced. We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection visit because it is a shared lives service and we needed to be sure that someone would be available to speak with us and show us records. The inspection was carried out by one adult social care inspector.

Before we visited the service we checked the information we held about this location and the service provider, for example, inspection history, statutory notifications and complaints. A statutory notification is information about important events which the service is required to send to the Commission by law.

During the inspection we spoke with the registered manager, the head of quality and compliance, the shared lives manager and two development workers. We were also able to speak to six people who were receiving the service and five carers.

We spent time looking at records, including four people’s care records, two staff files and four carers files. We also looked other records relating to the management of the service, such as policies and procedures, accident/incident recording and audit documentation.

Updated 30 June 2018

This inspection took place on 12 April 2018 and was announced. This was to ensure someone would be available to speak with us and show us records. PSS Shared Lives Wirral is an adult placement scheme. The scheme oversees carers who provide care and support to adults who have learning and physical disabilities. On the day of our inspection there were 36 people receiving regulated activity of personal care.

The registered manager, shared lives manager and three development workers are employed by PSS Shared Lives Wirral, however, carers are self-employed and have a contract with PSS Shared Lives Wirral.

The service had a registered manager in place. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to manage the service. Like 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.

During the course of the inspection we found that accidents, incidents and safeguarding’s were appropriately recorded however they were not regularly audited. We also identified that a notifiable incident had not been sent to the Commission, however appropriate actions had been taken by the manager and that people using the service were safe.

The provider had systems in place to ensure that people were protected from the risk of harm or abuse. We saw there were policies and procedures in place and training to guide staff in relation to safeguarding adults.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and carers supported them in the least restrictive way possible. Processes to ensure carers acted in people's best interests in line with the Mental Capacity Act 2005 were in place and followed. People and carers were encouraged to express any concerns so these could be addressed promptly.

Support plans were comprehensive and identified people's needs, wishes and goals so these were known and could be met. Reviews took place to ensure people remained happy with their carers and to provide an opportunity to identify any changes in needs so these could be addressed. People's healthcare needs were identified and they received input from healthcare professionals to maintain good health. Appropriate arrangements were in place for the safe administration of medicines.

People were happy living with their carers, who were caring and respected their right to privacy. They treated them with dignity and respect and encouraged them to be independent and enjoy life. This was supported by the staff of PSS Shared Lives Wirral.

Staff and carers were recruited safely. The provider had an effective recruitment and selection procedure in place and carried out relevant vetting checks when employing carers. Carers were suitably trained and received regular supervisions and appraisals.

The provider had policies and procedures in place which they regularly reviewed. They included policies on health and safety, confidentiality, mental capacity, medication, whistle blowing, safeguarding and recruitment.