Voyage (DCA) Solihull and Birmingham

Not everyone using Voyage (DCA) Solihull and Birmingham receives a regulated activity. CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with 'personal care', that is, help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do, we also take into account any wider social care provided. At the time of our inspection, 23 people were being supported with personal care at 12 separate addresses in Solihull and Birmingham. Seven people were being supported in their own homes and 16 people were being supported in shared houses.

At the last inspection in December 2015, the service was rated Good overall and in safe, effective caring, responsive and well-led. At this inspection we found the service remained Good in safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led. The overall rating remains Good.

There was a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered 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 not available at the time of our inspection. An acting manager had been appointed to manage the service in the absence of a registered manager, supported by the deputy manager and the operations manager.

Since our previous inspection in October 2015, we have reviewed and refined our assessment framework, which was published in October 2017. Under the new framework certain key areas have moved, such as support for people when behaviour challenges, which has moved from Effective to Safe. Therefore, for this inspection, we have inspected all key questions under the new framework, and also reviewed the previous key questions to make sure all areas were inspected to validate the ratings.

People were protected from the risks of abuse because support workers received training in safeguarding and understood their responsibility to report any concerns. The provider checked support workers were suitable for their role before they started working for the service.

People's support plans explained the risks to their individual health and wellbeing and the actions to support them were agreed with the person, their representative and healthcare professionals. People had health action plans and were supported to obtain healthcare services when required.

The provider made sure there were enough support workers, with the right skills and experience to support people effectively, and in line with their agreed support plan. People were supported to eat and drink enough to maintain a balanced diet that met their preferences.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and support workers supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies, procedures and staff training supported this least restrictive practice.

Relatives felt that people were supported by staff who genuinely cared for their relations as individuals. Support workers understood people's diverse needs and interests and encouraged them to maintain their independence according to their wishes and abilities.

Support workers were happy working for the service. People were supported and encouraged to maintain their interests and links with the local community according to their daily preferences. Support workers respected people's right to privacy and supported people to maintain their dignity.

Relatives could be confident any complaints and concerns they raised would be dealt with promptly. People and their relatives were encouraged to share their opinions about the quality of the service at annual service reviews and six monthly care reviews.

The provider's quality assurance system included regular checks that people's needs were met, checks of staff's practice and audits of people's medicines, finances and the safety of their home environments.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

The five questions we ask about services and what we found