This service was previously registered to operate from a different address. It was inspected on 9 February 2015 and was rated as good. This inspection was the first inspection undertaken at the service’s new address.

The inspection visits took place on 18 and 19 September 2017. The first day was an announced visit, the second day of the inspection was arranged to enable us to speak to people receiving a service in their own homes. We were assisted in obtaining consent for the home visits by the registered manager. 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.

Voyage (DCA) West Midlands is part of the Voyage Care Group which is a specialist provider of care and support for people with complex needs. People using this service lived with a range of conditions including learning disabilities, downs syndrome, and cerebral palsy. The service provides a domiciliary care service to people living in their own homes and people living in supported living schemes. At our inspection 18 people were using the service.

People were protected because risk assessments had been completed and there were appropriate actions taken to reduce the risk of harm.

People's identified support needs were met by sufficient numbers of support workers who were available to support people at agreed and appropriate times.

People using the service were secure and safe with their support workers. The provider ensured support workers had the required systems in place to protect people and keep them safe from the risk of abuse.

The provider had efficient and effective procedures for the recruitment of support workers and ensured they received the necessary induction and training to meet the support needs of people using the service.

People were supported or assisted by support workers to receive the medicines prescribed by their healthcare professionals.

People's consent was obtained before providing support. The provider understood the legal requirements of the Mental Capacity Act (2005) and the need to consider Court of Protection applications where appropriate.

People were supported to be as independent as possible and were able to make choices, and were encouraged to take responsibility for their own daily activities. People also chose and prepared their own food and drink at times to suit them.

People's health and support needs were regularly assessed and where necessary people were supported to access local health care professionals to ensure their health care needs were met.

People were observed to be supported by caring and respectful staff who maintained people’s privacy and dignity.

People’s support needs were clearly recorded in person centred support plans which involved people in their own care and were regularly reviewed.

People knew how to complain about the service they received and were supported to raise concerns or make complaints.

People had regular access to the registered manager and other managers for the provider.

The provider had effective management systems in place to regularly assess and monitor the quality of the service and took action to improve and ensure consistency across all of their services registered with CQC.