Appendix 1 - Definitions

Term

Definition

The Care Certificate is a nationally recognised qualification for Health Care Support workers and Adult Social Care workers. It was developed jointly by Skills for Care, Health Education England and Skills for Health.

GSL bases its carer assessment and monitoring procedures on the 15 Care Certificate standards.

Care Quality Commission (CQC)

Registered Manager

Notifiable incidents

Duty of candour

CQC is the government regulatory body which is responsible for monitoring and inspecting Shared Lives Schemes.

The Registered Manager for Gloucestershire Shared Lives is legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided. There is a link to our CQC report on the GSL website at: Gloucestershire Shared Lives

The Registered Manager must report any notifiable incident to CQC.  These are serious and unintended or unexpected incidents that a health care professional believes have resulted in (or require treatment from a health care professional to prevent):

• death
• impairment of sensory, motor or intellectual functions that has lasted or is likely to last for at least 28 consecutive days
• changes to the structure of the body
• experiencing prolonged pain or psychological harm
• shortening life expectancy

GSL has a duty of candour to be open and honest when a notifiable incident occurs. This means that we will:

• tell the person without delay and in person what has happened and provide support
• provide all the known facts, explain what further enquiries are appropriate and offer an apology
• provide the same information in writing and update the person on enquiries into the incident.
• keep written records of all communication with the person

Deprivation of liberty means that someone without capacity is not free to leave the GSL arrangement and must be under continuous supervision and control. 

Deprivation of liberty safeguards (DoLS) policy | Safeguarding Adults in Gloucestershire

An arrangement is when someone aged 18 or over with assessed needs is supported by a GSL carer. Support can be for a few hours, a few days or the person may live on a long-term basis in the GSL carer’s home as part of their family.

GSL carers are approved by GSL to provide personal care and support in GSL arrangements. Some experienced carers are approved to provide emergency care.

GSL officers are employed by GSL to:

• recruit, approve and train GSL carers
• set up, support, monitor and review GSL arrangements

Someone who is authorised under the Mental Capacity Act to make personal welfare decisions on behalf of an adult who lacks capacity i.e:

• someone who holds a lasting / enduring power of attorney given to them by the person before they lost capacity, or
• a deputy appointed by the Court of Protection