The inspection took place on 16 and 18 August 2016 and was announced. We gave the provider 24 hours notice because we wanted to ensure there would be staff in the office.

Southampton City Council Shared Lives Scheme is registered to provide personal care for adults who may have learning disabilities, mental health problems or physical disabilities, and for older people. It supports 62 people who live and receive care and support in carers' own homes.

There was a registered manager at the service. 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.

The registered manager managed a clearly defined structure. Shared lives carers and supporting carers were supported by four office based shared lives workers, including one employed in a senior role.

People felt safe living at home with their carers who had completed a thorough recruitment process. The recruitment process for carers lasted around three months as new carers met current carers, undertook training, had their skills assessed by staff, attended a “mock” panel and sought approval from a panel. There were procedures in place to follow in the event of an emergency, whereby a person may need to move temporarily at short notice. Staff and carers had completed training with regard to safeguarding adults. Risk assessments were undertaken to identify and minimise risks to people’s health and wellbeing. There was enough staff to meet people’s needs and the needs of the carers. People received their medicines as prescribed.

People were supported by carers and staff who had completed relevant training. New carers had completed the Care Certificate before they were approved and employed. Staff and carers accessed a range of relevant training to help them support people’s needs. People enjoyed their meals and were supported to access healthcare services when necessary.

People and their carers lived as a family and we observed there were caring interactions between people and their carers. People made decisions about how they spent their time and what support they needed. Staff accessed an advocacy service to support people with making decisions if necessary. People’s privacy and dignity was respected by carers.

People received personalised care and support in a family environment that was responsive to their needs. People’s needs were assessed by talking with them and gaining information from professionals who supported them. The information was used to create a care plan which detailed their individual preferences and needs. The provider had a complaints procedure in place which detailed how people could complain and what they could expect to happen in response to their complaint.

People benefitted by living with carers who felt well supported by the service which was open, honest and transparent. Staff spoke highly of the registered manager and the way the service was managed. The provider sought the views of people using the service, their relatives and carers. People were sent a questionnaire before their annual review where possible so any issues could be discussed at the review. Results of surveys were analysed and action taken when necessary. The registered manager had a system to monitor the quality of the service provided which included recording accidents, auditing the completion of records and following up issues.

We spoke with two people using the service, two Shared Lives carers, support staff and the manager. We visited people in their home settings, and observed interaction between them and their carers. Interaction was observed to be warm and sincere. People told us they were happy in their placements and with the support they received from the carers. One person told us their carer was “very good, very thoughtful, very kind.”

The Shared Lives placements were consensual in that people and their carers were able to choose freely whether to enter into the scheme and stay with the placement. Carers and the scheme’s support staff team ensured people’s choices were respected. The scheme’s ethos and effective systems ensured people’s rights and well-being were protected in line with legal requirements.

People were supported to be able to eat and drink sufficient amounts to meet their needs, and were protected from the risks of inadequate nutrition and dehydration. People were supported to eat healthily, but their individual food choices were also respected.

The provider’s recruitment and selection processes ensured carers were suitable and sufficiently skilled to provide effective care and support to vulnerable people. The service was open to feedback and had an appropriate complaints system to be used in the event a complaint was received.