Bluebird Care (Islington) & Bluebird Care (Hackney)

Updated 24 February 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 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.

The inspection took place on 29 September and 2 October 2017 and was unannounced. The provider knew we would be returning for the subsequent day. The inspection was conducted by one inspector.

Before the inspection we reviewed the information we held about the service and statutory notifications received. We spoke to the Local Authority safeguarding and contract monitoring teams to gather their views about the service.

During the inspection we used a number of different methods to help us understand the experiences of people supported by the service. We spoke with two directors, the manager, the recruitment and training officer, an administrator and five care workers. We looked at seven people’s care records, and five staff files, as well as records relating to the management of the service. Subsequent to the inspection we made a telephone call to two people and three relatives.

Updated 24 February 2018

Bluebird Care (Islington) & Bluebird Care (Hackney) is a domiciliary care agency providing support to adults in their own homes in Hackney and Islington. At the time of the inspection there were 75 people using the service.

The service was last inspected in November and December 2015 and was rated Good. However, the service needed to make improvements to be safe. The written risk assessments needed to be clear and accurate to keep people safe from the risk of harm. At this inspection we found the service remained Good and the service had made the necessary improvements to risk assessments to keep people safe from harm.

People felt safe and were protected from the risk of abuse. Staff were knowledgeable about safeguarding adults procedures and knew what to do if they had concerns about the people using the service. The staff were suitable to work in the caring profession and were recruited appropriately.

People were protected from risks to their health and wellbeing because risk assessments were accurate and provided sufficient detail to staff about how to manage specific risks.

Medicines were well managed and the service conducted regular audits of medicines administration.

There were enough staff to meet people’s needs, however people reported staff were sometimes late for visits. Staff were trained to carry out their roles and newly appointed staff were supported in their role by a robust induction period. Staff developed compassionate relationships with people using the service and respected their diversity and dignity.

People were supported to get enough to eat and drink and people had access to healthcare professionals.

People and their relatives were involved in planning their care and care records included information about people's background, likes and dislikes and promoting their independence. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

There was a positive and open culture at the service. People using the service and their relatives felt they could raise concerns if necessary. The service had various quality assurance and monitoring mechanisms in place to improve the quality of care delivery.