Bluebird Care (Gateshead)

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.

At our last assessment we rated this key question good. At this assessment the rating has remained 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.

The management team completed routine quality assurance reviews, analysing trends and emerging themes to identify learning opportunities and implement improvements that enhanced service quality and safety.

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.

The provider visited people to assess their needs and agree the appropriate level of support required prior to them commencing with the service. New staff were introduced to people before providing support, and relevant information was shared with staff through an electronic care planning system.

Where appropriate, people had hospital passports in place, providing healthcare professionals with important information about their needs, communication preferences and support requirements. This helped ensure safe and effective care during hospital admissions or appointments.

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. The provider shared concerns quickly and appropriately.

The provider had systems to identify and investigate safeguarding concerns. Staff had completed safeguarding training and understood their responsibilities for recognising and reporting safeguarding concerns to management and the appropriate authorities.

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.

Staff knew people well and demonstrated a detailed understanding of their strengths, aspirations and support needs. They worked alongside people to identify and manage risks positively, ensuring individuals were empowered to make informed choices, achieve greater independence and pursue what mattered most to them.

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 risk assessments were completed prior to people’s care starting, to help ensure the safety of people and the staff supporting them. Risk assessments considered access to people’s homes and ensured any equipment people needed could be used safely.

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.

Effective recruitment processes supported the safe appointment of staff. Staff were provided with comprehensive training across a broad range of topics to enable them to perform their roles effectively.

People and relatives confirmed staffing levels were sufficient, with care calls consistently taking place on time and no missed visits.

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.

Staff told us they received training in infection prevention and control, and there was enough personal protective equipment (PPE) to carry out their duties safely.

The provider made sure that medicines and treatments were safe and met people’s needs, capacities and preferences. Staff involved people in planning, including when changes happened.

People received their medicines safely from trained and competent staff. Robust medicines records were maintained, providing assurance that medicines were administered correctly and in line with prescribed instructions.

Regular spot checks were undertaken by the management team to monitor the safe and correct administration of medicines.