EarlyBird Lifestyle 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 registered service. This key question has been rated Good. This meant people were safe and protected from avoidable harm.

This service scored 78 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

The service demonstrated a strong and embedded learning culture that consistently drove improvement and enhanced outcomes for people. There was clear evidence that safety incidents were thoroughly analysed, with findings used proactively to inform practice and reduce the likelihood of recurrence. Learning from incidents was not only identified but effectively shared across the service, ensuring continuous improvement in the quality and safety of care.

Staff and people using the service were actively encouraged and supported to raise concerns, contributing to an open and transparent culture where learning was valued. This approach fostered psychological safety and empowered staff to contribute to service development. Feedback obtained by the provider indicated people and their relatives felt there was a strong learning culture at the service.

Record keeping was comprehensive and well maintained, providing clear audit trails that supported reflective learning. Following incidents, care plans and risk assessments were promptly reviewed and updated, demonstrating that learning was embedded into day-to-day practice and resulted in improved person-centred care and outcomes for people. For example, detailed and accurate incident records for 1 person enabled the identification of potential falls risks. This information was used to inform practice and reduced the number of repeated falls. Care routines were updated to improve safety, staff were prompted to minimize environmental risks, and occupational health practitioners were contacted to review and evaluate mobility equipment. This demonstrated a diligent and reflective service, further supporting a positive learning culture that promoted people's safety and positive outcomes.

Communication systems were highly effective, ensuring staff were informed of incidents in a timely manner. This promoted immediate learning, enhanced situational awareness and supported safer care delivery.

The provider demonstrated a strong commitment to continuous improvement by actively seeking external learning opportunities. The provider actively engaged with research opportunities to better understand the needs of the community and people they served. Active engagement with Skills for Care and attendance at local authority information sharing and training events enabled the service to align leadership and workforce development with recognised standards, further strengthening organisational learning and the quality-of-care people receive.

The service demonstrated a proactive and person-centred approach to managing safe transitions of care. Comprehensive assessments were consistently undertaken in collaboration with people, healthcare practitioners, local authorities, commissioners, family members, and other care providers. This ensured that risks were thoroughly identified and mitigated, and that transitions were planned around people’s holistic needs.

Robust processes were in place to gather, review, and share detailed records and information. The service ensured that all relevant documentation was obtained and analysed to confirm its ability to meet needs safely and effectively. This proactive approach minimised the risk of gaps in care and supported consistent, high-quality delivery from the outset. Safe transitions were supported by provider policy.

There was a strong culture of listening and co-production. The views of people using the service, their families, partner organisations, and staff were actively sought, valued, and used to inform decision-making and improve care pathways. Feedback directly influenced service development and safety practices.

Safeguarding systems within the service were robust and consistently ensured people were kept safe. Staff received comprehensive training and demonstrated a strong understanding of how to recognise, respond to, and report signs and symptoms of abuse. Systems and processes were embedded in practice, enabling prompt and effective action where concerns arose.

The service promoted an open, transparent, and inclusive culture. People, their relatives, and staff told us they felt safe and confident to raise concerns, knowing they would be listened to and acted upon. Leaders fostered an environment where safeguarding was everyone’s responsibility, and learning from concerns was used proactively to strengthen practice.

Governance and oversight arrangements were effective. The provider’s policies and procedures supported strong safeguarding practice and were consistently applied. Record keeping was detailed, thorough, and reflective, enabling clear tracking of concerns, actions taken, and outcomes achieved. This contributed to a responsive and accountable safeguarding approach.

For people living in the community, the service was aware of its responsibilities under the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). At the time of assessment, no applications to the Court of Protection were required, as there were no restrictions in place that amounted to a deprivation of liberty.

The service demonstrated a person-centred and empowering approach to risk management, where people were fully involved in making informed decisions that enhanced their independence, confidence, and quality of life.

Risks associated with people’s care were holistically assessed and well managed, ensuring that protective measures did not restrict independence unnecessarily. For example, risks relating to falls were expertly managed through proactive planning and adaptive strategies, enabling people to remain active while reducing the likelihood of harm.

People were at the heart of all risk management processes, consistently involved in discussions about their care, treatment, and personal goals. This collaborative approach meant people felt listened to, respected, and in control of their lives, resulting in increased engagement and trust in the service.

Communication across the team was effective, with well-established systems ensuring that critical information about risks was shared promptly and consistently. This resulted in seamless continuity of care, where staff were confident, informed, and able to respond proactively to changing risks.

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 before care began and reviewed regularly, covering risks such as trip hazards, fire safety, and safe use of equipment.

Equipment was checked to ensure it was safe and fit for purpose, with issues reported and addressed promptly. Clear processes were in place to manage risks associated with community care, including lone working and access to people’s homes, and staff understood how to report concerns and incidents.

Training in health and safety supported staff to maintain safe environments, and they demonstrated good awareness in practice. People using the service told us they felt safe and described staff as careful and respectful.

The service demonstrated commitment to ensuring safe and effective staffing. This was underpinned by robust systems and compassionate leadership.

Staff received a comprehensive induction programme including shadowing, observation, and structured support. This ensured staff were well prepared to deliver safe care from the outset. The Care Certificate, a set of fundamental standards developed for the health and care support workforce, was actively used to support staff development, alongside a wide range of high-quality training tailored to people’s individual needs. Such as, dementia awareness, stoma care, learning disability awareness and personal centred care. Systems for supervision and appraisal were embedded, and staff were encouraged to undertake additional training beyond mandatory requirements, for example, a level 2 diploma in health and social care, promoting continuous professional development and ensuring a highly skilled workforce. Staff consistently told us they felt well supported by leaders and confident in their roles.

Recruitment processes were thorough and safe, ensuring all staff were appropriately skilled, experienced, and suitable for their roles. These processes were supported by robust provider policies, contributing to a consistently safe staffing model. People and their relatives spoke highly about staff describing them as “Switched on, efficient and eager to please.”

The service demonstrated effective deployment of staff through an efficient scheduling system, ensuring that people received timely and responsive care. Scheduling was compassion-led and flexible, meaning people’s preferences, routines, and individual needs were central to how care visits were arranged. One relative told us, “They’re flexible and very accommodating.”

There were strong oversight and governance processes in place to monitor staffing arrangements, and the care coordinator played a pivotal role in maintaining safe and effective staffing. They demonstrated a strong understanding of both people and staff individual needs, promoting a compassionate and person-centred approach. This included completing home visits to introduce new staff, which helped build trusting relationships and ensure continuity of care.

The service demonstrated an effective approach to infection prevention and control (IPC). Staff consistently used appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) during all care and support activities, with adherence to best practice closely monitored by leaders through regular spot checks and reinforced during structured supervision. This ensured high standards were both maintained and continually improved.

Staff received specific role-relevant IPC training, and the provider actively promoted a strong culture of learning by sharing up-to-date guidance through multiple accessible channels, including physical and virtual noticeboards, digital communications, and comprehensive staff induction materials. This ensured staff remained well-informed and confident in applying IPC measures in practice.

People using the service and their relatives provided consistently positive feedback, telling us that staff were diligent with hygiene practices and reliably used PPE at every visit. Their experiences reflected a service where safety and infection control were clearly prioritised.

Robust provider policies underpinned practice, and systems were fully embedded across the service, supporting consistent, safe and effective IPC delivery.

The service demonstrated effective medicines optimisation. People reliably received their medicines as prescribed, supported by robust daily monitoring systems and highly accurate electronic administration records, minimising risk and ensuring continuity of care.

People were actively supported to attend regular medicine reviews, ensuring treatments remained effective and responsive to changing needs. For people experiencing mental health difficulties, the service worked proactively with healthcare professionals to adapt medicines, resulting in improved stability, wellbeing, and quality of life.

Staff demonstrated high levels of competence and confidence, underpinned by comprehensive training and regular competency assessments. This ensured consistent, safe decision-making and promoted a culture of accountability and excellence. People and their relatives spoke highly about staff and indicated they worked in a joined-up manner to promote independence and medicine safety.

People experienced safe, timely, and responsive medicines support that improved health outcomes, enhanced independence, and promoted overall wellbeing. The service’s proactive, well-coordinated approach reflected best practice.