Background to this inspection
Updated
27 February 2020
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.
Service and service type
This service provides care and support to people living in eight ‘supported living’ settings, so that they can live as independently as possible. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. The care Quality Commission (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 CQC. This means that the provider is legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided. The service had a manager in post who had submitted an application to register with CQC.
Notice of inspection
We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because the service is small, and people are often out, and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us.
What we did before the inspection
We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report. We used all this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with four people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with ten members of staff including the operations manager, the manager, two field care supervisors, a care coordinator and five care workers.
We reviewed a range of records. This included five people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at four staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We spoke with two additional people who used the service, three relatives and one health and social care professional.
Updated
27 February 2020
About the service
Voyage (DCA) Hull and East Riding is a supported living service providing personal care and support to people with a learning disability and/or Autism. At the time of our inspection, the service supported 27 people, across 10 properties.
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
People felt safe; they were supported by enough suitable staff. People received their medication as prescribed. Infection control practices were followed. Risks were positively managed, and measures were in place to promote positive risk taking, which empowered people.
Staff supported people to take control of their nutritional needs. They promoted people to maintain a healthy weight. People’s health care needs were met.
People were treated with respect by kind and caring staff. People’s independence was fully encouraged; they made their own decisions and choices.
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.
Staff supported people to engage in the local community and promoted their interests and hobbies.
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.
People and members of staff felt engaged in the service. We received positive feedback about the supportive nature of the management team.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the Care Quality Commission (CQC) website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
This service was registered with us on 10/01/2019 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection in line with our inspection schedule.
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.