Borough of Poole - Poole Shared lives Scheme is a shared lives placement service, which recruits and supports paid carers to provide family based placements for younger people and adults with learning disabilities within the carer's home. Placements can be long-term with the adult living with the carer as part of their family, or as respite care where other people stayed with carers for short-term breaks. There were 84 people using the service for permanent and or respite stays and there were 64 shared lives carers.

This inspection took place on 9 and 16 May 2018 and was announced. We met with shared lives carers and people on 16 May 2018. The service was inspected in October 2016 at their previous address.

At our last inspection we rated the service good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

People were supported by staff and shared lives carers who understood the risks they faced and how to support them to reduce these. People, shared lives carers and staff understood how to identify and report abuse. Shared lives carers supported people to take and store their medicines safely. People’s health and nutritional needs were met.

People were supported by skilled and caring shared lives carers and staff. They supported people to live their life the way they chose. People’s communication styles and methods were understood. People were involved in developing and directing the care and support plans. Shared lives carers and staff supported people to understand the choices available to them in ways they could easily understand.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and shared lives carers supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. People led full and active lives in their homes and in the community.

People, shared lives carers and professionals told us they could raise any concerns and these were addressed appropriately.

The service was well-led and there were effective quality assurance systems in place to assess, monitor and improve the quality and safety of the service people received.

Further information is in the detailed findings below