We carried out a review of the data available to us about Blue Ribbon Live In Care on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Blue Ribbon Live In Care, you can give feedback on this service.
Blue Ribbon Live In Care is a home care agency that supplies live-in staff to provide personal care to people living in their own homes. At the time of our inspection, 12 people living in London or North Wales, received personal care and support from this agency. Approximately half these people were living with dementia.
People’s experience of using this service
People told us they were happy with the standard of live-in care and support they received from this home care agency. Typical feedback from relatives included, “Blue Ribbon Live In Care are an excellent provider who I would highly recommend.”
People received continuity of care from live-in care workers who were familiar with their needs and wishes, and whose fitness to work in an adult social care had been thoroughly checked.
However, we have made a recommendation about live-in care workers being entitled to sufficient uninterpreted time off without working between their scheduled shifts.
People were kept safe and protected against the risk of avoidable harm and abuse. People were cared for and supported by live-in care staff who knew how to manage risks they might face. Medicines systems were well-organised, and people received their prescribed medicines as and when they should. Staff followed current best practice guidelines regarding the prevention and control of infection including those associated with COVID-19.
The provider ensured live-in care staff had the right levels of training and support they needed to deliver safe and effective personal care to people living at home. 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 were supported to access food and drink that met their dietary needs and wishes. Assessments of people’s support needs and wishes were carried out before they started receiving any home care from this agency. People were supported to stay healthy and well, and access relevant community health and social care professionals as and when required.
People were treated equally and had their human rights and diversity respected, including their cultural and spiritual needs and wishes. Live-in care staff treated people with dignity and upheld their right to privacy. People typically described their live-in care workers as “kind”. People were encouraged and supported to maintain their independent living skills and do as much for themselves as they were willing and capable of doing so safely.
People each had an electronic care plan that was person-centred, which helped live-in staff provide them with individualised home care and support they needed. Staff ensured they communicated and shared information with people in a way they could easily understand. People were encouraged to make decisions about the care and support they received at home and staff respected their informed choices. People were supported to participate in activities that reflected their social interests and to maintain relationships with family and friends who were important to them. People’s concerns and complaints were listened to and investigated by the provider. When people were nearing the end of their life, they received compassionate and supportive care.
People receiving a home care service, their relatives and staff were complimentary about the way the office-based managers ran the agency and how approachable they all were. The quality and safety of the service people received was routinely monitored by managers and they recognised the importance of learning lessons when things went wrong. The provider promoted an open and inclusive culture which sought the views of people receiving a home care service, their relatives and live-in care staff. The provider worked in close partnership with other health and social care professionals and agencies to plan and deliver people’s packages of live-in home care.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at the last inspection
This service was registered with us on 31 January 2014. This is their first comprehensive inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned comprehensive inspection based on the service no longer being dormant after they started providing a service to a number of people in 2020 when they become active.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information, we may inspect sooner.