Archived: Wiltshire Council Shared Lives Service

This was an announced inspection which meant the provider knew we would be visiting. This was because we wanted to make sure the manager would be available to support our inspection, or someone who could act on their behalf.

There was a service manager in post, who has applied to the CQC to be the registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered 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.

At the last inspection in August 2014, the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

People and their shared lives carers spoke positively about the support they received from Wiltshire Council Shared Lives Service. Health and Social Care professionals who worked alongside the service told us the manager and staff were responsive and knew people and their carers well.

People told us they felt safe living with their shared lives carers and they were always available to help them. Comments included “Yes I do, it’s a lovely home. They [carers] are always here to help” and “I am very happy”.

People were kept safe because systems were in place reducing the risks of harm and potential abuse. Shared lives carers and placement officers had all received safeguarding training, and were aware of their responsibilities in reporting concerns, and the concerns of those they supported.

Risk assessments were in place to support people to be as independent as possible. These protected people and supported them to maintain their freedom.

People were protected by a safe recruitment system. All shared lives carers experienced a thorough approval process before being able to provide support to someone. This included an interview by an independent approval panel consisting of a range of professionals and a person using the shared lives service.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. Shared lives carers and officers had a good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

People received effective care and support from well supported and trained shared lives carers. There was a thorough induction programme which all carers undertook before being able to support people.

Positive caring relationship had developed between people and their shared live carer. People were supported to achieve their potential and gain independent living skills. People had opportunities to take part in activities within their home as well as out in the community. People told us they felt part of the family home.

People, shared lives carers, staff and professionals working alongside the service, all spoke positively about the management of the service. They all said the manager was approachable and very supportive. The manager was keen on raising the service’s profile and to be able to recruit more carers to enable them to offer more placements to people.

We have made a recommendation about the service reviewing their systems of checking people’s financial management.

The manager told us placement officers were involved in and made aware of, every aspect of the person's needs from the start of the placement process. When changes to the plan of care had to be made, a meeting was scheduled and carers and the person using the service attended. The meeting was recorded and a plan of action was created. The manager met carers annually to review the service provided. People signed to say they had attended the meeting and agreed the proposals.

The five carers we spoke with said they had felt continuously supported by the manager and placement officers from the time they commenced working. One carer told us, 'I have a great relationship with my placement officer, if there are any issues I can contact them and always get a quick reply'. Another said, 'The service is very supportive and they give us good advice and point us in the right direction for any help'.

The service had a full time manager and two part time placement officers, who were in turn supported by two part time assistant placement officers. All were employed by Wiltshire Council and were either based in the north or south of the county. There were 30 households approved to provide longer term placements, with two of them set up for short term or respite placements, which could be either planned or to cover an emergency.

People were made aware of the complaints system. This was provided in a format that met their needs. We saw the service user's handbook, which included a section about complaints and who to turn to for support or act as an advocate. The format included easy to read text and pictures. This was given to each person before they started on a placement.

We saw that the Adult Placement Service had policies and procedures in place that ensured people's needs and wishes were assessed and recorded prior to them being placed at a suitable location.

People's needs were recorded in a plan of care that was kept under review. Risks to people's safety were assessed and plans to reduce and monitor risks to both people using the service and others were recorded.

Staff received safeguarding training and records we looked at showed us they were aware of how and when to report any concerns.

In order to protect people using the service we saw that the service carried out an appropriate staff recruitment process and staff received training and support suitable to their role.

We were unable to speak directly with people who used the service because they were either at work or out for the day.

People we spoke to were positive about the staff team, we spoke with a visiting professional who told us, "we visit the people in placements often, they are happy and seem to settle well".

Records we reviewed showed us there were processes in place to monitor accidents and incidents and the quality of service being provided. One person had commented on a recent service questionnaire, ' I am very happy here '.