Bluestar Care & Support LTD

On this page

• Overview
• Learning culture
• Safe systems, pathways and transitions
• Safeguarding
• Involving people to manage risks
• Safe environments
• Safe and effective staffing
• Infection prevention and control
• Medicines optimisation

Safe – this means we looked for evidence that people were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. This is the first assessment for this service. This key question has been rated good. This meant people were safe and protected from avoidable harm.

This service scored 75 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

The provider had a proactive and positive culture of safety, based on openness and honesty. Staff listened to concerns about safety and investigated and reported safety events. Lessons were learnt to continually identify and embed good practice. Staff understood the importance of reporting incidents and safeguarding concerns and were confident in doing so. Systems were in place to investigate accidents, incidents and complaints, and any learning from these were shared during team meetings and supervisions. Reflective accounts and root cause analyses were used to prevent recurrence. A staff member told us, “After incidents, managers usually explain what happened and what changes are being made. I remember we talked about [situation] and lessons to be learnt during one of our staff meetings.”

The provider worked with people and healthcare partners to establish and maintain safe systems of care, in which safety was managed or monitored. They made sure there was continuity of care, including when people moved between different services. Care and support was planned collaboratively with people, families, and professionals to ensure continuity and safety. Risk assessments were completed before care packages started, and transitions were managed through clear processes and liaison with relevant professionals. If needed, a transfer of care document was available should a person move between services or require a hospital admission, this ensured other services understood their needs.

The provider worked with people and healthcare partners to understand what being safe meant to them and the best way to achieve that. Staff concentrated on improving people’s lives while protecting their right to live in safety, free from bullying, harassment, abuse, discrimination, avoidable harm and neglect. Staff were knowledgeable about safeguarding and explained what constituted abuse and how they would escalate concerns. A staff member said, “I look out for things like bruises that were not there during my previous visit, sudden changes in mood. I would report immediately to my manager, but I also know I can go to the safeguarding team or CQC if needed.” The safeguarding policy was clear and staff were provided contact details for local authority safeguarding teams, emergency services, and CQC. Safeguarding was discussed regularly in meetings, and staff had access to ongoing training. People and relatives felt safe, and information about safeguarding was included in the service brochure.

People can only be deprived of their liberty to receive care and treatment with appropriate legal authority. In a community setting this can be done through the Court of Protection. We checked whether the service was working in accordance with best practice. Although no one was deprived of their liberty the provider had safe systems and processes in place to ensure people’s rights were upheld.

The provider worked with people to understand and manage risks by thinking holistically. Staff provided care to meet people’s needs that was safe, supportive and enabled people to do the things that mattered to them. Risks were assessed and managed, support plans included detailed risk assessments, such as epilepsy protocols and moving and positioning guidelines. Staff involved people and their families in decisions about risk management and respected their choices while maintaining safety. People and relatives were involved in risk assessments and support planning. A relative told us they were involved in planning their loved one’s care and support, they said, “We have been fully involved in [person’s] support plan, I have read it and am happy with what's said.”

The provider detected and controlled potential risks in the care environment. They made sure equipment, facilities and technology supported the delivery of safe care. Environmental risks were assessed during initial assessments. Equipment such as hoists were checked before use, and staff had completed health and safety training and training in the safe handling of chemicals. Staff described how they promoted safety in people’s homes and said, “I tidy up after tasks, make sure walkways are clear, and check that if they have equipment, it is safe to use.” Staff were aware to report any safety concerns to the management team if required.

The provider made sure there were enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff, who received effective support, supervision and development. They worked together well to provide safe care that met people’s individual needs. Staffing levels were sufficient to meet people’s needs, and rotas allowed for travel time between visits. Recruitment processes were in place, including pre-employment checks and references, gaps in employment were explored, however, we discussed with the registered manager about ensuring these conversations were documented. Staff received an induction and had completed training, including courses relevant to their role, such as, epilepsy and learning disability awareness. A well-equipped training room enabled practical learning and competency assessments. The registered manager was a qualified trainer in many areas of care and support, this meant timely training was provided to new staff or in response to an incident where staff required further learning. A professional commented on staff training and said, “The training provided by Bluestar Care and Support is highly relevant and effective. It gives me the confidence needed to protect people while respecting their rights.”

The provider assessed and managed the risk of infection. They detected and controlled the risk of it spreading and shared concerns with appropriate agencies promptly. Infection prevention and control (IPC) measures were followed consistently. Staff had completed IPC training, and personal protective equipment (PPE) was readily available. Spot checks monitored compliance with hygiene standards, the registered manager, as a qualified trainer, could address issues promptly.

The provider made sure medicines and treatments were safe and met people’s needs, capacities and preferences. Staff involved people in planning, including when changes happened. At the time of inspection, no one was receiving medicines support; however, processes for oversight and audits were ready to be implemented when needed. Policies and templates were available, and staff had completed medicines training in readiness.