Bluebell Centre

Updated 14 March 2020

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

There was one inspector in the inspection team.

Service and service type

This service is similar to a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their homes.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was announced.

We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

What we did before the inspection

We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections.

During the inspection

We spoke with nine members of staff including the service director, registered manager, assistant manager, team supervisor and care workers.

We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and multiple medication records. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We contacted eight people and were able to speak to five people on the telephone to ask them about their experience of receiving care.

Updated 14 March 2020

About the service

The Bluebell Centre is a reablement service which provides support to people in their own homes. At the time of our visit 24 people were using the service. The reablement service involves a multi-disciplinary approach involving support workers, social workers and occupational therapists agreeing a programme of intensive support for people with the aim of skilling them or re-skilling them to manage the activities of daily living. It is particularly used for people who need support to help regain skills and confidence after being discharged from hospital. The service is for a short intense period of support based on the individual's needs.

People have told us they felt safe in their homes around staff who helped to keep them safe. Risks to people’s health and wellbeing were documented for staff to refer to. Staff understood how to keep people safe. People told us there were enough staff to support them. Systems were in place to review the backgrounds of potential staff to assure the registered provider of their suitability to work at the service. People were supported with their medicines according to their needs. The registered manager reviewed practices to ensure any learning could be incorporated to improve the service people received.

People’s needs were assessed prior to them receiving care. This was to ensure everything was in place, which included equipment so that people received the care they needed. Staff worked with other health professionals and stakeholders to support people achieve the outcomes they wanted.

Where appropriate staff supported people with their meals and offered choices.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People told us staff were very caring and help to reassure them. People explained that when they first left hospital they felt vulnerable, but with the attention and care of staff they were able to gain their independence and dignity. Staff understood how to support people to promote their individual lifestyle choices. Staff had received equality and human rights training and understood how to promote peoples’ choices.

People’s care was continually reviewed and updated. People told us during their care package their needs quickly changed and that at every step, staff included them in their care planning to achieve goals they identified with the help of staff. Staff used a number of communication methods to communicate with people, depending on the person’s needs. People understood they could complain if they needed to but did not feel they needed to. The service did not provide End of Life Care but staff knew who to contact should they need to in the event of an emergency.

People felt they received a good service and that the service was well run. The registered manager demonstrated how they were working towards an Outstanding rating. Staff felt part of a team that shared the registered manager’s vision for giving people the best care possible. Communication was open and staff felt communication was two way and that at staff meetings, staff were encouraged to share their thoughts. The registered provider understood their obligations and staff understood their was a whistleblowing policy in place. The registered manager had taken part in a review of the service to ensure the service people received was in line with other similar services. Staff also worked with local partners in the community to help promote people’s independence.

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was Good (published 10 May 2017).

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk