Working at Luton Council Respite and Shared Lives Service

Risks from behaviours, health needs, equipment and medication errors are not always fully assessed or managed safely.

Risks in relation to people's behaviour needs, health and nutrition needs, equipment and medicines were not always managed safely. Medicines were not always managed safely.

Staff have training certificates but no checks to prove they can do specialist tasks like tube feeding safely.

Staff had received an attendance certificate for training in enteral feeding, but their competency had not been assessed by a suitably trained professional to ensure they were competent to support people with this type of feeding.

Enough staff overall but poor rota planning from senior vacancies means shifts do not always match people's needs.

Vacancies in the senior team responsible for rota planning, as a result staffing was not always planned effectively to meet the needs of the mix of people attending the respite service. A member of staff told us, 'There are enough staff, but staff planning is poor.'