Knowsley Network and Shared Lives Scheme

Updated 18 May 2019

The inspection:

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team:

The inspection team consisted of one adult social care inspector and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service. They had experience of caring for people with learning disabilities.

Service and service type:

Knowsley Network and Shared Lives Scheme provides a supported living service to people living in their own home and long-term placements, short breaks and respite care, within SLC own homes.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection:

We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection visit because we needed to make arrangements to speak with people in their own homes and in the office.

What we did:

Our plan took into account information the provider sent us. We also considered information about incidents the provider must notify us about, such as abuse. We obtained information from other professionals who work with the service.

During the inspection:

Over the three days of the inspection we spoke with a total of 16 people using the service and three family members to ask about their experience of care. We also spoke with four shared lives SLC, five supported living staff, the registered manager, and five office based staff who have responsibilities for monitoring and reviewing people’s care and support.

We looked at five people’s care records and a selection of medication and medication administration (MARs). We looked at other records including quality monitoring records, recruitment and training records and other records relating to the management of the service.

Shortly after our inspection, we received feedback from healthcare professionals on their experiences of the service.

Updated 18 May 2019

About the service:

Knowsley Network and Shared Lives Scheme provides a supported living service for people living in their own homes and recruits, trains and supports self-employed shared lives carers (SLC) who offer accommodation and support arrangements for vulnerable adults within their own family homes in the community. This is the first inspection since the current registration, however the service had been operating for a number of years established under a different registration.

CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with personal care. This includes help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also take into account any wider social care provided. At this inspection there were 51 people using the service.

People’s experience of using this 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.

The service followed the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure people who use a service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best outcomes that include control, choice and independence. At this inspection the provider ensured they were consistently applied.

People received care and support that was truly individualised, flexible and responsive to their needs. We received overwhelming feedback of the positive impact this had on people and how they had changed people’s lives. We saw excellent examples of how the care and support people received enhanced and enriched their lives. Staff and SLC had the upmost respect for people's individuality and empowered them to express their wishes and make their own choices. People and others knew how to feedback any concerns or complaints about their experiences and were extremely confident about doing so.

People and family members were extremely positive about how kind, caring and compassionate staff, SLC and managers were. Staff were highly motivated in providing consistent person-centred care. People told us they felt listened to, valued, respected and included in every aspect of their care and support, and the development of the service. People’s independence and choice was promoted to the maximum and they were consistently supported to develop new skills. Staff, managers and SLC had formed strong trusting relationships with people and were described as often going above and beyond what was expected of them to enhance and enrich people’s quality of life. Staff and managers were very compassionate in the way they supported people at the end stages of their life and after their death.

People were protected from the risk of abuse and harm. All staff and SLC had completed training in topics of safeguarding and health and safety. They understood their responsibilities for keeping people safe and reporting any concerns about people's safety. Staff and SLC consistently supported people to take positive risks as part of an independent lifestyle. Robust recruitment and matching procedures were followed for staff and SLC. Medicines were safely managed, and people were supported to be as independent as possible with managing their own medicines. Accidents and incidents were reported in an open and transparent way and action was taken to reduce further occurrences and learn from them.

A holistic approach had been followed in the assessing, planning and delivery of people’s care and support. Care plans were detailed and identified intended outcomes for people. Staff and SLC provided care and support that was met in a way people preferred and provided positive outcomes. People developed in areas such as communication, social interaction, education and independence.

Managers and leaders were knowledgeable and promoted a culture that was person-centred and inclusive. The management team actively supported people to achieve their goals and aspirations. Managers, staff and SLC were all described as being supportive and approachable and always putting the needs of people first. The service worked with other professionals in meeting people's needs. Effective systems were in place to check on the quality and safety of the service and improvements were made when required.

Rating at last inspection: This was the first inspection of the service since it was registered with CQC in February 2018.

Why we inspected:

This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Follow up:

We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If any concerning information is received, we may inspect sooner.