Voyage(DCA) Greater Manchester

Voyage (DCA) Greater Manchester is a domiciliary care service, providing personal care and support to people living in Trafford and Bolton. 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 provides support to adults with learning disabilities and autism. At the time of our inspection there were 26 people using the service.

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.

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

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.

Right Support

Staff were committed to supporting people in line with their preferences and supported people to receive their medicines. However, we found people’s medicines were not always managed safely. High level assurances were provided by the management team this area would be addressed. People’s independence was promoted, and staff encouraged people to take control of their own care. People’s care and support needs were assessed in a person-centred way and risks associated with the provision of people’s care were assessed to ensure support was provided safely. Where people's needs were complex, the service would call upon the experience of their positive behaviour specialist who worked hard to create plans so care could continue safely.

Right Care

People and their relatives were pleased with their care and support. Staff were kind and respectful, upholding people's right to privacy and dignity. They understood and responded to individuals needs in a way they were comfortable with. People had access to health care professionals when they needed them. Medicines were administered safely.

Right Culture

People received quality care and support because staff worked closely with the registered manager and demonstrated a commitment to positive outcomes for people. Staff received regular supervision and support. The registered manager had invested time and effort in developing staff skills and confidence, delegating tasks with support so staff felt more able to manage a range of situations in the registered manager's absence.

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 5 February 2021 and this is the first inspection. The last rating for the service under the previous provider was good.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

Enforcement

We are mindful of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our regulatory function. This meant we took account of the exceptional circumstances arising as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic when considering what enforcement action was necessary and proportionate to keep people safe as a result of this inspection. We will continue to monitor the service and will take further action if needed.

We have identified a breach in relation to safe management of medicines at this inspection.

Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.

Follow up

We will request an action plan from the provider to understand what they will do to improve their medicines systems. We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.