Archived: Bluebird Care (Newbury)

Updated 24 June 2017

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 23 and 24 May 2017 and was announced. The provider was given notice because the location provides a domiciliary care service. We needed to be sure that the staff would be available in the office to assist with the inspection.

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Before the inspection we looked at the Provider Information Return (PIR) which the provider sent to us. 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 also looked at all the information we have collected about the service. This included notifications the registered manager had sent us. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to tell us about by law.

On the day of the inspection we spoke with the registered manager (director), a director, the 'care manager' and six other staff members. The ‘care manager’ worked closely with the registered manager in the day to day organisation and working of the service. After the day of the visit we received comments from six people (or their representatives) who use the service. We contacted eleven local authority and other professionals and received responses from three. We looked at a sample of records relating to the people’s care and general management of the service. These included six people's care plans, a selection of policies, four staff recruitment files and the service’s training records.

Updated 24 June 2017

This was an announced inspection which took place on 23 and 24 May 2017. Bluebird Care (Newbury) is a domiciliary care service which is registered to provide personal care to people living in their own homes. The service re-registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in June 2016 after a change of address. The service currently provides personal care to 51 people who live in the Newbury and West Berkshire area. Most people offered a service are self-funding (pay for their own care).

There is a registered manager running the service. 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.

People were kept as safe as possible by staff who had been appropriately trained and knew how to protect people in their care. Care staff were recruited via robust recruitment processes to ensure they were suitable to provide safe care to people. General risks and risks to individuals were identified and action was taken to reduce them. People were supported to take their medicines safely, at the right times and in the right amounts by trained and competent staff.

People were provided with care that met their individual needs, preferences and choices. They were supported and encouraged to make decisions and choices about their care. Staff upheld people’s legal rights with regard to decision making and choice. People’s rights were protected by a management team who understood the Mental Capacity Act (2005). This legislation provides a legal framework that sets out how to act to support people who do not have capacity to make a specific decision. 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.

People's needs were met by a committed and caring staff team who built strong relationships with people. People’s diversity was recognised and respected and they were treated with respect and dignity at all times.

The service was well managed by a registered manager and management team who were described as approachable, open and supportive. The service had a number of ways to monitor and assess the quality of care they offered. Any shortfalls or improvements needed were identified and acted upon.