Background to this inspection
Updated
10 July 2021
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 a single inspector.
Service and service type
This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own flats or supported living setting, 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 had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
Notice of inspection
This inspection was announced. We gave a short period notice because we needed to be sure that the registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection; and to enable them to obtain people and relatives consent for us to contact them about their experience of the service.
Inspection activity started on 6 May 2021 and ended on 18 May 2021 We visited the office location on 6 May 2021.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since initial registration. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service for people’s care. We used the information the provider sent us in their provider information return (PIR). This is information provider are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well and any improvements they plan to make. We used all of this information to plan this inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with three people who used the service and three relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 7 care team staff including, one senior and the registered manager.
We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care plans, medicines records and a range records relating to the staffing and management of the service. This included staff recruitment and training records, care and safety policies, meeting minutes and the provider’s checks of the quality and safety of people’s care.
Updated
10 July 2021
About the service
Voyage DCA (North Derbyshire) is a domiciliary care agency providing personal care for younger adults with a learning disability or autistic spectrum disorder, living in their own individual flats or within a shared supported living setting. At this inspection there were nine people receiving personal care from the service, including some who were also living with a physical disability or mental health needs.
Where people were living in a shared supported living setting, this provided individual bedroom accommodation with ensuite facilities, along with shared communal spaces, such as kitchen, lounges, dining and garden areas. Dedicated staff sleep-in facilities and secure storage facilities for people’s confidential personal information were also provided for use when needed, in accordance with people’s agreed care needs.
Not everyone using the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene, mobility, health and nutrition. Where they do we also consider any wider social care provided.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
The provider’s staffing, risk management, medicines and safeguarding arrangements, helped to ensure people’s safety within the service. Recognised hygiene measures were followed for the prevention and control of infection. Health incidents and near misses were routinely monitored and analysed, to help inform or improve peoples’ care and prevent any further reoccurrence when needed.
There were effective arrangements for the assessment and delivery of peoples’ care in line with nationally recognised standards and the law. People were supported to maintain or improve their health and nutrition; through timely consultation and information sharing with relevant external health professionals and care providers, when needed for people’s care.
Staff were trained and supervised for their role. People were supported to have maximum control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. The provider’s related policies and systems 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 through the promotion of 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 received care from kind, caring staff who knew people well and how to communicate with them. Nationally recognised care values were promoted to ensure people’s equality, rights and inclusion in relation to their care and daily living arrangements.
People received timely, individualised care, which they were happy with. Arrangements for end of life care were effectively considered, to help ensure people’s dignity, choice and comfort in any event.
The provider was meeting the accessible information standard, to enable people to understand and agree their care in accordance with their assessed needs. Complaints information and handling arrangements helped to ensure and inform any care or service improvements needed.
The service was well managed, led and regulatory requirements were being met. The registered manager and staff understood their role, responsibilities and legal requirements for people’s care. The provider operated effective governance arrangements for the quality and safety of people’s care. Effective management arrangements were established for communication, record keeping and information handling at the service. Relevant partnership working was ensured for people’s care and daily living arrangements
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
This service was registered with us on 25 June 2019 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection. The service met with the characteristics of Good in all areas.
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