Background to this inspection
Updated
28 September 2017
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.
The inspection took place on 28 June and 4 July 2017 and was announced. One inspector visited the service on both days of the inspection.
We spoke with two people using the service to learn about their experiences. We also spoke with seven staff including the deputy manager, and five shared lives carers, and received written feedback from two social care professionals.
We reviewed care records for 13 people. We also looked at two staff files, training records and other records relating to how the service was managed.
Before the inspection, we reviewed the information we held about the organisation including the 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.
Updated
28 September 2017
Bournemouth and Dorset Shared Lives offers long term care and respite breaks for people with different needs in shared lives carers’ homes. At the time of the inspection 77 people were receiving a service.
This was an announced inspection where we provided staff with short notice of our visit. This was to ensure the key staff we needed to speak with would be available. At the time of the inspection the registered manager was away on long-term planned leave. An experienced manager had been appointed in their absence, but had not yet started. We were supported throughout the inspection by the deputy manager.
Staff, people and shared lives carers told us people had happy and busy lives. A member of staff told us, “Just like a normal family you do ordinary things. They are involved and included.” A shared lives carer said, “I think it makes a big difference living in a homely environment and being part of a family.”
People’s safety was protected because staff and shared lives carers had been trained in safeguarding adults, and risk assessments were robust and proactive in maintaining people’s independence. Where incidents or accidents occurred, these were carefully analysed for trends or patterns and actions were taken to reduce the risk of a re-occurrence. Recruitment was robust for both shared lives carers and staff working in the service. People’s medicines were managed safely.
People were supported by shared lives carers and staff who received the right training and support to undertake their role effectively. People’s rights were respected and they were supported to access health or social care services as and when they needed to.
The service had an extremely caring approach that meant people were leading happy lives. People’s independence was promoted at every opportunity and there was a highly person-centred approach to how the service was developed and how it could be shaped by people.
The service assessed people’s needs thoroughly and care planning was undertaken with people to ensure their full involvement. People decided on what goals they wanted to achieve and staff and shared lives carers supported them to develop their independence and skills.
The service was well led with an emphasis on improvement and learning from people. There were a range of quality assurance mechanisms in place to ensure the service people received was safe, effective, caring and responsive.