- Homecare service
Bluebird Care (Gateshead)
Assessment report published 20 October 2026
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
We carried out this assessment of Bluebird Care (Gateshead) between 8 and 14 September 2026. Bluebird Care (Gateshead) is a domiciliary care agency providing personal care and support to people living in their own homes. At the time of our assessment 35 people were receiving personal care.
We assessed the service against ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ guidance to make judgements about whether the provider guaranteed autistic people and people with a learning disability respect, equality, dignity, choices, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. At the time of the assessment, the service was not supporting any autistic people or people with a learning disability, but the provider had regard to ‘Right support, right care, right culture’.
People received safe, effective and well-coordinated care that was tailored to their individual needs, preferences and choices.
Staff demonstrated a clear understanding of safeguarding responsibilities and were confident any concerns raised through the appropriate processes would be taken seriously and acted upon.
The provider worked collaboratively with people and their families to identify needs and develop person-centred care plans. Comprehensive care plans and risk assessments helped ensure care was delivered consistently and safely. Regular reviews were undertaken to keep care plans aligned with people’s changing needs, wishes and outcomes.
Medicines were administered safely.
Positive communication and teamwork between staff and the management team contributed to the delivery of consistent and well-coordinated care and support.
Staff were recruited safely and equipped with the necessary training, supervision, and guidance to carry out their duties.
Robust governance arrangements ensured effective oversight of the care people received.
Lessons learned from incidents were identified and shared across the wider team, and actions were implemented to support continuous improvements in practice.
The registered manager demonstrated exceptional leadership by consistently seeking, valuing and acting on feedback from people, relatives and staff to drive a culture of continuous improvement.
Staff worked in close partnership with people and their families to deliver highly personalised care that consistently met people's needs and preferences. Feedback described a strong, inclusive and person-centred culture, where people were at the heart of decision-making.
People's experience of this service
Feedback from people and their relatives was overwhelmingly positive. Staff were consistently described as kind, compassionate and approachable, going above and beyond to ensure people felt valued and respected. People told us staff took the time to understand them as individuals, listened carefully to their views, and tailored support around their preferences and choices.
People told us staff respected their privacy and dignity, and they felt comfortable when being supported with their personal care needs. They expressed trust in the team, noting that seeing the same small group of staff helped build strong, reliable relationships.
People also told us staff always turned up and there were no missed calls. A relative said, “They have never cancelled a visit and always arrive on time.”
People were fully involved in decisions about their care and support and were encouraged to take the lead in planning how risks and health needs were managed. This collaborative approach ensured care was highly personalised and reflected what mattered most to each person.
Relatives consistently praised the caring, proactive and reliable support provided by staff. They felt reassured knowing their loved ones were receiving care tailored to their needs and preferences. A relative commented, “The care is absolutely 100%. It makes me emotional talking about it, but staff have made them feel safe. They are lovely, gentle and understanding.”
The positive and lasting impact staff had on people's lives was evident throughout our assessment. People and relatives described staff as more than carers, they were trusted companions who genuinely cared about people's wellbeing and were committed to ensuring they lived fulfilling lives in the way they chose.