Sunderland Shared Lives

Updated 30 October 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. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

One inspector and an Expert by Experience formed the inspection team. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

Sunderland Shared Lives is a shared lives scheme, they recruit, train and support self-employed shared lives carers who offer accommodation and support arrangements for vulnerable adults within their own family homes in the community.

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. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection. We also wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us.

Inspection activity started on 30 September 2019 and ended on 1 October 2019. We visited two people in their own homes and spoke to other people and their carers by telephone on 30 September 2019. We visited the office location on 1 October 2019.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with four people who used the service and eight carers about their experience of the service. We spoke with the registered manager and senior support worker.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and medicines records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

Updated 30 October 2019

About the service

Sunderland Shared Lives is a scheme which provides people with long-term placements within shared lives carers’ own homes. The scheme oversees carers who provide care and support to adults who have learning disabilities. On the day of our inspection there were 17 people using the service. The registered manager and senior support worker are employed by the service however carers are self-employed and have a contract with Sunderland Shared Lives.

The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service received planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that was appropriate and inclusive for them.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People told us they felt safe. Risks were well managed. The provider learned from previous accidents and incidents to reduce future risks. The registered manager understood their responsibilities about safeguarding and carers had been appropriately trained. Arrangements were in place for the safe administration of medicines.

The provider had an effective recruitment and selection procedure, and carried out relevant vetting checks when they employed carers. Carers were suitably trained and received regular support.

People using the service received planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that was appropriate and inclusive for them.

People’s needs were assessed before they started using the service and were continually assessed to ensure care plans remained relevant and any emerging needs were met. People were treated with dignity and respect. Carers helped to maintain people’s independence by encouraging them to care for themselves where possible.

The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives, and carers supported them in the least restrictive way possible. The policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

Carers knew people well and understood what was important to them. People lived full and active lives and were protected from social isolation.

The provider had a complaints procedure and people were aware of how to make a complaint. An effective quality assurance process was in place. People and carers were regularly consulted about the quality of the service.

The Secretary of State has asked the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to conduct a thematic review and to make recommendations about the use of restrictive interventions in settings that provide care for people with or who might have mental health problems, learning disabilities and/or autism. Thematic reviews look in-depth at specific issues concerning quality of care across the health and social care sectors. They expand our understanding of both good and poor practice and of the potential drivers of improvement.

As part of the thematic review, we carried out a survey with the registered manager at this inspection. This considered whether the service used any restrictive intervention practices (restraint, seclusion and segregation) when supporting people. The service used positive behaviour support principles to support people in the least restrictive way. No restrictive intervention practices were used.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was good (published 1 November 2017). Since this rating was awarded, the service has moved premises. We have used the previous rating to inform our planning and decisions about the rating at this inspection.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

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