Archived: Bluebird Care (Bedford)

Updated 4 September 2018

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.'

The inspection was announced and carried out by one inspector and an expert by experience. An expert by experience is a person who has experience of this type of service. We gave the provider 48 hours’ notice to ensure that they would be available to facilitate our inspection.

We reviewed information we held about the service including statutory notifications. Statutory notifications include information about important events which the provider is required to send us. We received feedback from the local commissioning team. We reviewed information submitted on the PIR Providers information return.

During the inspection we spoke with seven people who used the service, three relatives, two members of the management team, the provider, registered manager and the field care supervisors. We received feedback from five care staff members. We viewed three care plans, two staff recruitment files, training records and other information relating to the overall management of the service.

Updated 4 September 2018

This inspection was carried out on 18, 19 and 20 July 2018 and was announced. At the last inspection in October 2015 the service was rated good in all domains. At this inspection the service continued to meet all the requirements and achieved a rating of good in all domains.

Bluebird care provides personal care and support to people living in their own homes in the community. At the time of the inspection 60 people were being supported by the service.

People told us they felt safe being supported by the service and confirmed their individual risks were assessed and measures put in place to ensure risks were mitigated where possible. There was a robust recruitment process in place and various pre-employment checks were completed prior to potential staff starting work in the service. There were sufficient trained staff available to meet people’s needs People were supported to take their medicines safely in accordance with the prescriber’s instructions.

People were supported by staff who had received appropriate training and support from the management team. People’s consent was sought before care was provided and the staff and management were familiar with the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. People were supported to eat and drink sufficient amounts to maintain their health and wellbeing. Where required people were supported to access a range of healthcare professionals such as their GP, or to make dental or Hospital appointments.

The feedback from people who used the service was very positive. Everyone felt totally involved in organising their care. Everyone had a named care coordinator who met with them regularly, to discuss their ongoing care needs, as well as completing spot checks. The care coordinators were accessible and were available in person or on the phone whenever they were needed.

Everyone had a care plan which was reviewed and agreed with them regularly. People said that they would recommend the service. People told us the staff were excellent, kind caring and compassionate and that they were treated with dignity and respect. People’s personal and private information was protected to ensure their confidentiality was maintained.

People received personalised care that met their needs. These were kept under regular review to ensure when people’s needs changes the service was able to respond accordingly. Detailed information was provided to staff to help ensure staff were able to provide effective and responsive care to people. Where appropriate people were supported to pursue hobbies and interests and the management team and staff arranged social events to bring people together and reduce the risk of social isolation. There was a clear process in place if people needed to raise a concern, but no complaints had been made.

No one had experienced any totally missed calls and we were told that on the rare occasion of a carer running late, someone from the office would always contact them.

There were systems and processes in place to monitor the overall quality and safety of the service. The registered manager and staff were continually looking at ways to improve the service. People knew the manager and told us they felt the service was well managed. People, their relatives and staff were very positive about the all aspects of the service and in particular the overall management of the service.