14 July 2017
During a routine inspection
Voyage (DCA) (North 3) provides care and support to people with a learning disability who live in their own home or a supported living environment. On the day of our inspection there were 22 people using the service.
The service had a registered manager in place. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to manage the service. Like providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run. The registered manager was on annual leave at the time of our inspection.
Accidents and incidents were appropriately recorded and investigated. Risk assessments were in place for staff and people who used the service and were regularly reviewed. Staff understood their responsibilities with regard to safeguarding and had been trained in safeguarding vulnerable adults.
Appropriate health and safety checks had been carried out to ensure people lived in a safe environment.
Medicines were stored safely and securely, and procedures were in place to ensure people received medicines as prescribed.
There were sufficient numbers of staff on duty in order to meet the needs of people who used the service. The provider had an effective recruitment and selection procedure in place and carried out relevant vetting checks when they employed staff. Staff were suitably trained and training was arranged for any due or overdue refresher training. Staff received regular supervisions and appraisals.
The provider was working within the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and was following legal requirements in respect of Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS).
People were protected from the risk of poor nutrition and staff were aware of people’s nutritional needs. Care records contained evidence of people being supported during visits to and from external health care specialists.
People who used the service and family members were complimentary about the standard of care at Voyage (DCA) (North 3). Staff treated people with dignity and respect and helped to maintain people’s independence by encouraging them to care for themselves where possible.
Care records showed that people’s needs were assessed before they started using the service and care plans were written in a person-centred way. Person-centred is about ensuring the person is at the centre of any care or support plans and their individual wishes, needs and choices are taken into account.
People were able to access education and employment opportunities, and activities were arranged for people based on their likes and interests, and to help meet their social needs. The service had good links with the local community.
People who used the service and family members were aware of how to make a complaint and said they did not have any complaints to make.
The provider had an effective quality assurance process in place. Staff felt supported by the management team and were comfortable raising any concerns. People who used the service, family members and staff were regularly consulted about the quality of the service via meetings and surveys. Family members told us the management team were approachable and communication was good.