The inspection took place on 15 May 2017 and was announced.

Surrey Choices Shared Lives Scheme arranges placements with Shared Lives carers for adults with learning disabilities, physical disabilities or mental health needs. In addition to permanent residential placements, the scheme also offers short-term support, such as respite care or following discharge from hospital, or daytime support. There were 49 people using the service at the time of our inspection, 19 of whom were receiving personal care.

The scheme is responsible for supporting and monitoring Shared Lives placements and recruiting, vetting, training and supporting Shared Lives carers. The scheme had 58 approved Shared Lives carers at the time of our inspection.

There was a registered manager in place at the time of our inspection. Like registered providers, registered managers are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

People felt safe and secure in their Shared Lives carers’ homes. The scheme promoted a positive approach to risk taking, which kept people as safe as possible while being supported to live their lives the way they chose.

People were protected by the provider’s procedures for the recruitment and approval of Shared Lives carers. Shared Lives carers attended training in safeguarding and were clear about their responsibilities to report any concerns they had about abuse or people’s safety. People’s finances were managed and recorded appropriately.

Accidents and incidents were recorded and reviewed by the registered manager to ensure that any actions necessary to prevent a recurrence had been taken. Where people’s care involved support with medicines, this was managed safely.

Shared Lives carers received the support and training they needed to fulfil their roles effectively, including any specific training required to meet the needs of the people they supported. They told us the provider responded positively if they requested additional training. Scheme workers had access to the training they needed to support Shared Lives carers.

People’s care was provided in accordance with the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). Shared Lives carers had received training on the principles of the MCA and how these principles applied in their work. Assessments had been carried out where necessary to establish whether people had the capacity to make decisions about their care and support. Where people lacked the capacity to make decisions, there were appropriate procedures in place to ensure that decisions were made in their best interests.

People told us they were able to choose the food they ate. They said their Shared Lives carers encouraged them to participate in grocery shopping where they could buy foods they liked. Shared Lives carers told us they encouraged people to make healthy food choices whilst enabling them to enjoy their favourite foods. Any specific dietary needs were known by Shared Lives carers and recorded in people’s care and support plans.

People’s healthcare needs were monitored effectively. People told us their Shared Lives carers supported them to make a medical appointment if they felt unwell and accompanied them to all appointments. Shared Lives carers recorded the outcomes of healthcare appointments and scheme workers checked these records at monitoring visits.

People had developed positive, lasting relationships with their Shared Lives carers and enjoyed their company. They told us they valued the family atmosphere of their placements and were included in the family lives of their Shared Lives carers. Shared Lives carers spoke with genuine affection about the people that shared their home. People said their Shared Lives carers were kind and caring and treated them with respect. They told us they could spend time on their own whenever they wished and that their privacy was respected.