Archived: Bluebird Care (South Staffs)

Updated 27 April 2016

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check 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.

This inspection took place on the 30 and 31 March 2016 and was announced. The provider was given five days’ notice because the location provides a domiciliary care service. We wanted to arrange home visits and telephone calls to people who used the service and to ensure staff were available to speak with us. The inspection was carried out by one inspector and an expert by experience. An expert by experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

We checked the information we held about the service and the provider. This included notifications the provider had sent to us about significant events at the service and information we had received from the public.

The provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

We used a range of different methods to help us understand people’s experiences. We visited two people in their homes and made telephone calls to a further nine people. We spoke with two relatives of people who used the service, three care staff, a senior member of care staff and the registered manager. We looked at care records for five people to see if their records were accurate and up to date. We also looked at records relating to the management of the service including quality checks.

Updated 27 April 2016

We inspected this service on 30 and 31 March 2016. The service provides care in people’s homes to older people and people with long term conditions such as dementia and learning disabilities. The service is available in the South Staffordshire region. At the time of the inspection 43 people were being supported by the service. The service had not been inspected since registering with us in January 2014.

There was a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

Some people were not protected from potential abuse as staff did not report some of their concerns to the local authority.

People told us they felt safe. Risks to people were managed in a positive way to keep people safe and promote their independence. There were systems in place to manage medicines and ensure that people were supported to take their prescribed treatments. The staff who worked in the service had checks to ensure their suitability to work there. Staff received an induction and training to gain the skills and knowledge to support people.

We found that staff had an understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and when needed mental capacity assessments were completed. When people lacked capacity to make their own choices, decisions had been made on their behalf in their best interests. People were involved with planning and reviewing their care.

People were treated in a caring way and were happy with the staff. People told us the staff had the skills to support them and knew them well. People were encouraged to be as independent as possible. When people needed support with mealtimes or access to health professionals it was provided for them.

Quality monitoring was completed by the provider and was used to bring about improvements to the service. The opinions of people who used the service was sought and this information was used to make changes. Staff felt supported and listened to and were given the opportunity to raise concerns and suggest changes.