Encompass Shared Lives Scheme is registered to provide personal care and support to people living with shared lives carers. Shared lives carers are individuals and families who offer accommodation and provide personal care to people using the service. Most people lived with the shared lives carers on a permanent basis. This was our first inspection of the service since the new provider registered this location with the Care Quality Commission [CQC] on 10 May 2017.

The CQC regulates the provision of personal care provided to people using the service. Personal care includes help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Although we do take into account any wider social care activities the service provides. At the time of our inspection 20 people with learning disabilities were using the service and receiving personal care.

There was no registered manager in post at the service. The manager has recently applied to the Commission to become registered manager. At the time of this inspection he had just completed his ‘fit persons’ interview with CQC Registrations. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service and has the legal responsibility for meeting the requirements of the law, as does the provider. 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.

Carers told us they were not adequately supported over the last three to four months by the scheme. This was caused by a gap in time between the recruitment of new staff to replace the staff who left and new staff starting. Carers told us they were hopeful the new staff who had recently started would provide the necessary support. The service did not have full time management support as the registered manager could only dedicate part of their time at the service as they also managed two other services.

People felt safe using the service and were supported by carers who knew how to keep them safe. Shared lives staff and shared lives carers understood their role and responsibilities to keep people safe from harm. Risks were assessed and plans put in place to keep people safe. Checks were carried out on shared lives carers and staff before they started to assess their suitability to care for and support vulnerable people. Where people required assistance with taking medicines this was well managed and people received the support identified in their care plans.

Shared lives carers and shared lives staff received regular supervision and were provided with the training needed to meet people's needs. The registered manager, shared lives carers and staff understood the principles of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 and worked to ensure people's rights were respected.

People were cared for by shared lives carers who knew them well. The care and support they received was monitored by shared lives staff. People were treated with dignity and respect and their independence promoted. The registered manager, shared lives staff and carers had a good understanding of equality, diversity and human rights.

The service was responsive to people's needs and they received individualised care and support. People were encouraged to make their views known and the service responded by making changes. The registered manager said they welcomed comments and complaints and saw them as an opportunity to improve the care and support provided.

Carers told us they had concerns about the lack of support they experienced while there were unfilled staff posts earlier in the year and they said there were delays in carers payments being made. The provider had effective quality assurance processes in place with a number of different audit procedures in place.