Bluebird Care Rochdale

Updated 15 October 2019

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

This inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats.

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

We gave the service Three days notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

Inspection activity started on 9 September 2019 when we visited the office and ended on 13 September when we visited people in their own homes.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the service was first registered with us. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.

During the inspection

We spoke with five people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with eight members of staff including care workers, the registered manager, and the providers, one of whom was the nominated individual. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider.

We reviewed a range of records. This included six people’s care records and medication records. We looked at four staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

Updated 15 October 2019

About the service

Tramways Offices (known as and referred to in this summary and the full report as Bluebird Care Rochdale) is a domiciliary care provider providing support to adults and children. Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also consider any wider social care provided. At the time of our inspection the service was supporting 23 people who received personal care.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People felt secure and confident in the service’s ability to keep them safe. Staff understood safeguarding procedures and risk assessments were comprehensive. There were enough staff to meet people’s needs and systems ensured that they had been recruited safely. Procedures ensured medicines were well managed where people required assistance with this.

Care and support was provided by trained staff who understood the needs and wishes of people, and how they liked to be supported. Regular supervision ensured that they remained aware of current guidance and best practice. People told us that they were always offered choices in how their care was provided.

People were treated with respect by kind and caring staff. Privacy and dignity were respected, and people were introduced to any new member of staff before they began working with them.

The service was well managed by a registered manager and providers who took an active interest in the service and supported staff and people by providing hands-on care. Systems were in place to monitor the quality of service delivery, and the service was looking at ways this information could be used to determine how the service could improve. Links had been established with other agencies to keep abreast of good practice through the Bluebird network and local forums.

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

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 11/10/2018 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This was the first planned inspection of this service.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.