- Homecare service
Tower Hamlets Shared Lives Scheme
Assessment report published 21 August 2025
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
Date of Assessment: 8 July to 31 July 2025. The service is a shared lives scheme. A shared lives scheme recruit, train and support self-employed shared lives carers who offer accommodation and support arrangements for people within their own family homes. This includes long term placements, short breaks and respite care. The service was registered to care for people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.
Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. At the time of our inspection, they were supporting 17 people, but only 1 person received personal care.
In this report, we sometimes refer to people using the service, shared lives carers who shared their homes with people and shared lives staff, including the registered manager, who managed, monitored and coordinated the work of the shared lives carers.
The provider demonstrated a proactive and positive culture of safety, ensuring people were protected from avoidable harm. Safeguarding procedures were robust, and staff, including shared lives carers, were confident in identifying and reporting concerns. Risk management was person-centred, with shared lives carers and professionals working together to ensure safe and supportive care. The provider had effective systems in place for recruitment, training, and emergency planning. Medicines were managed safely, with shared lives carers receiving appropriate training and competency checks. The provider ensured the shared lives carer’s home environment was safe, with regular checks to maintain health and safety standards.
People’s needs were assessed and reviewed effectively, with care planned and delivered in line with best practice. There was strong evidence of integrated working, particularly with the Community Learning Disability Service (CLDS) team. Monitoring and improving outcomes was a key focus. Consent to care and treatment was managed in line with best practice, with all staff demonstrating a clear understanding of their responsibilities.
The provider and shared lives carers treated people with kindness, compassion, and respect. The person was fully integrated into the shared lives carer’s family life, with a strong, trusting relationship evident. People were treated as individuals, with care tailored to their preferences and communication needs, The provider promoted independence, choice, and control, with people being fully supported to make decisions and participate in daily life. Staff were responsive to people’s immediate needs, particularly during times of distress or health concerns, which ensured timely and compassionate support. The provider supported the wellbeing of shared lives carers and staff, with regular monitoring visits, peer support groups, and access to training and development. The service was highly responsive to people’s needs, with a strong commitment to person-centred care. Care plans were detailed and personalised, developed in partnership with people, shared lives carers and professionals. The provider used creative approaches to capture people’s views, including a video that celebrated the person’s life and achievements. Information was accessible and tailored to people’s needs, with shared lives carers using a range of communication tools to support understanding and involvement.
Leadership was strong, with a clear vision and strategy for delivering high-quality, person-centred care. The registered manager promoted a positive and inclusive culture, with all staff feeling valued and supported. Governance systems were robust, with regular audits, monitoring visits, and action plans used to drive improvement. The provider engaged with the local community and national organisations to promote and raise awareness about the positive benefits of shared lives. The provider fostered a learning culture, encouraging feedback and innovation to improve outcomes for people. Theethos, values, and behavioursof all staff and leaders supported inclusive and empowering environments.
We assessed the service against ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ guidance to make judgements about whether the provider guaranteed people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted.
We found the provider was meeting the principles of Right support, right care, right culture. For example, they ensured people were able to make informed choices, promoted independence and were actively involved in the local community. Care was person-centred and tailored to people’s individual needs.
Tower Hamlets Shared Lives Scheme is also registered to provide personal care in people’s own homes. However, at the time of this inspection the provider was not providing this element of their registration. Therefore, this inspection focused on reporting on the shared lives element of their registration only.
People's experience of this service
We spoke with, met and received feedback from the person who used the service, their shared lives carer, shared lives staff and a range of health and social care professionals involved with the service.
We met with the person and their shared lives carer within the family home. We observed a range of positive interactions and saw there was a relationship of trust, respect and genuine affection.
We saw the provider and the shared lives carer supported the person to live a healthier life, with clear evidence of improved emotional wellbeing and reduced distress due to the stability of the placement and continuity of care. The person maintained important relationships, was supported to pursue their interests and engaged with their local community.
The shared lives carer felt supported by the provider and spoke positively about their experience of the shared lives model of care. The person had lived with their shared lives carer for many years. The shared lives carer had a deep understanding of the person and their approach was reflected across all the feedback we received. The shared lives carer added, “I dread to think what could have happened without shared lives and the fact [person] may have gone to a residential service out of the borough. They are part of our family and they would have had a very different experience if they had not been able to stay within their home.”
All of the health and social care professionals we spoke with praised the work of the service and the relationship between the person and their shared lives carer. They all highlighted the positive impact it had made on the person’s life. Comments included, “It is an incredible placement. [Shared lives carer] has provided an amazing level of support. I dread to think what the alternative would have been” and “Since I started working with [person], I observed that [shared lives carer] has been a wonderful carer. Their patience, conscientiousness and loving nature really stand out. It is clear they go above and beyond to ensure their wellbeing and always advocate for them."