Blue Ribbon Live In Care

Updated 10 November 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.

As part of this inspection we also looked at the provider’s infection control arrangements, so we could understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by an inspector.

Service and service type

This service is a home care agency that uses live-in staff to provide personal care to people living at home.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). 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 the service a weeks’ notice of the inspection visit because we needed to be sure the office-based managers would all be available for us to speak with during our inspection. This two-day inspection started on 9 August and ended on 17 August 2021, when we visited the provider’s offices.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed all the information we had received about this home care agency. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

During our site visit we spoke virtually via a video link with the registered manager and in-person with both the services manager and assistant manager who were permanently based in the providers’ London offices.

We looked at a range of electronic records that included three people’s care plans, and various staff recruitment, training and supervision records and medication administration sheets. A variety of other records relating to the overall management of the service were also read.

Following the inspection

We received email feedback about Blue Ribbon Live In Care from the relatives of six people using the service, a community nurse and four live-in care staff.

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We requested the provider send us additional evidence after our inspection in relation to staff training and duty rosters.

Updated 10 November 2021

About the service

Blue Ribbon Live In Care is a home care agency that supplies live-in staff to provide personal care to people living in their own homes. At the time of our inspection, 12 people living in London or North Wales, received personal care and support from this agency. Approximately half these people were living with dementia.

People’s experience of using this service

People told us they were happy with the standard of live-in care and support they received from this home care agency. Typical feedback from relatives included, “Blue Ribbon Live In Care are an excellent provider who I would highly recommend.”

People received continuity of care from live-in care workers who were familiar with their needs and wishes, and whose fitness to work in an adult social care had been thoroughly checked.

However, we have made a recommendation about live-in care workers being entitled to sufficient uninterpreted time off without working between their scheduled shifts.

People were kept safe and protected against the risk of avoidable harm and abuse. People were cared for and supported by live-in care staff who knew how to manage risks they might face. Medicines systems were well-organised, and people received their prescribed medicines as and when they should. Staff followed current best practice guidelines regarding the prevention and control of infection including those associated with COVID-19.

The provider ensured live-in care staff had the right levels of training and support they needed to deliver safe and effective personal care to people living at home. 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 were supported to access food and drink that met their dietary needs and wishes. Assessments of people’s support needs and wishes were carried out before they started receiving any home care from this agency. People were supported to stay healthy and well, and access relevant community health and social care professionals as and when required.

People were treated equally and had their human rights and diversity respected, including their cultural and spiritual needs and wishes. Live-in care staff treated people with dignity and upheld their right to privacy. People typically described their live-in care workers as “kind”. People were encouraged and supported to maintain their independent living skills and do as much for themselves as they were willing and capable of doing so safely.

People each had an electronic care plan that was person-centred, which helped live-in staff provide them with individualised home care and support they needed. Staff ensured they communicated and shared information with people in a way they could easily understand. People were encouraged to make decisions about the care and support they received at home and staff respected their informed choices. People were supported to participate in activities that reflected their social interests and to maintain relationships with family and friends who were important to them. People’s concerns and complaints were listened to and investigated by the provider. When people were nearing the end of their life, they received compassionate and supportive care.

People receiving a home care service, their relatives and staff were complimentary about the way the office-based managers ran the agency and how approachable they all were. The quality and safety of the service people received was routinely monitored by managers and they recognised the importance of learning lessons when things went wrong. The provider promoted an open and inclusive culture which sought the views of people receiving a home care service, their relatives and live-in care staff. The provider worked in close partnership with other health and social care professionals and agencies to plan and deliver people’s packages of live-in home care.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at the last inspection

This service was registered with us on 31 January 2014. This is their first comprehensive inspection.

Why we inspected

This was a planned comprehensive inspection based on the service no longer being dormant after they started providing a service to a number of people in 2020 when they become active.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information, we may inspect sooner.