Voyage (DCA) Leicestershire

Updated 1 August 2019

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

This inspection was carried out by one inspector and one Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats. This service also provides care and support to people living in eleven supported living settings, so that they can live as independently as possible. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support.

The service did not have a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission at the time of the inspection. However, a manager who intended to register had been employed by the service. The provider is currently legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

Inspection activity started on 7 June 2019 and ended on 13 June 2019. We visited the office location on 7 and 10 June 2019. We also visited people in their homes on 10 June 2019.

What we did before the inspection

We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We reviewed other information that we held about the service such as notifications. These are events that happen in the service that the provider is required to tell us about. We contacted Healthwatch Leicestershire. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England. We also contacted the local authority for feedback. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with seven people who used the service and seven relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with eight members of staff including, a supporting registered manager from another service within the group, the manager, the area manager, a senior support worker and support workers.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three peoples care records and multiple medication records. We looked at one staff file in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

Updated 1 August 2019

About the service

Voyage (DCA) Leicestershire is a domiciliary care agency providing personal care to older and younger adults, living with physical disability, mental health conditions, eating disorders, learning disabilities and autistic spectrum disorder. People are supported in their own houses or in supported living accommodation.

There are eleven supported living properties including shared occupancy houses. There were eighteen people using the service at the time of our inspection. Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also consider any wider social care provided.

The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

At the time of our inspection the service did not have a registered manager. However, a new manager was in post and they were supported by the area manager and a mentor who was an experienced registered manager from one of the provider’s other services. Prior to our inspection the manager and management team had identified areas for improvement and had developed an action plan that continued to make good progress. Learning and skill development was actively encouraged, and staff felt confident in their role. The manager worked in partnership with other professionals to strive for good outcomes for people who used the service.

The service was safe. Risk assessments were in place and reviewed regularly to ensure safe care continued. Staff were trained to recognise signs of abuse and knew how to report it. Safe recruitment procedures meant that suitable staff were employed. Medicines were managed safely. Staff used Protective personal equipment (PPE) and good hygiene practices to prevent the spread of infection.

People’s choices, lifestyle, religion and culture as well as their personal and health care needs were all included in the care planning process. People were supported to access health care services, and the service worked in partnership with healthcare professionals. Staff had the knowledge, skills and confidence to do their job. People received care in line with the law and. People’s nutritional needs were met.

Peoples needs were met by good planning and coordination of care. Pre-admission assessments meant the provider was confident they had the right staff available to support people prior to care starting. Regular reviews of care meant the service could respond to changes in people’s needs promptly. End of life care required further development. We have made a recommendation about end of life care.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.

The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was good (published 10 November 2016).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.