Bluebird Care (Sussex Weald)

Updated 12 July 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 the 19 June 2018 and was announced. The provider was given 48 hours’ notice because the location provides a domiciliary care service. We wanted to be sure that someone would be in to speak with us.

The inspection team consisted of two inspectors 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 used information the provider sent us in the Provider Information Return. This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We looked at this and other information we held about the service. This included notifications. Notifications are changes, events or incidents that the service must inform us about.

During our inspection we spoke with eleven people and four relatives over the telephone. Four care staff, the co-ordinator, a supervisor, the registered manager, operations director and the provider. We observed the staff working in the office dealing with issues and speaking with people over the telephone. After the inspection we contacted five health and social care professionals to gather their feedback and we received two responses.

We reviewed a range of records about people’s care and how the service was managed. These included the care records for five people, medicine administration record (MAR) sheets, five staff training, support and employment records, quality assurance audits, incident reports and records relating to the management of the service.

The service was last inspected on the 13 January 2016 and was awarded the rating of Good. At this inspection the service remains Good.

Updated 12 July 2018

The inspection took place on the 19 June 2018 and was announced. The provider was given 48 hours’ notice because the location provides a care at home service. We wanted to be sure that someone would be in to speak with us.

Bluebird Care (Sussex Weald) is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses in the community and provides a service to adults. Not everyone using the service received the regulated activity; CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with ‘personal care’; help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating.

On the day of the inspection the service was supporting 72 people with a range of health and social care needs, such as people with a physical disability and people living with dementia. Support was tailored according to people’s assessed needs within the context of people’s individual preferences and lifestyles to help people to live and maintain independent lives and remain in their homes.

At the last inspection on 13 January 2016, the service was rated as good in the areas of Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the overall rating of Good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

Systems remained in place to protect people from abuse and staff received training in their responsibilities to safeguard people. Risks relating to people's care were reduced as the provider assessed and managed risks effectively.

People's medicines were managed safely by staff. People remained supported by staff who the provider checked were suitable to work with them. In addition, there were enough staff to care for people.

People were encouraged to live healthy lives and received food of their choice. People received support with their day to day healthcare needs.

People continued to receive care in line with the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and staff received training on the Act to help them understand their responsibilities in relation to it.

Staff understood people's needs and preferences and people were encouraged to maintain their independence. Staff maintained people's dignity and treated them with respect. People were encouraged to maintain relationships with those who were important to them.

People's needs and preferences continued to be assessed. People's care plans were sufficiently detailed to Inform staff about people's needs and to guide staff in caring for them. People's care was planned and delivered in response to their needs.

Staff remained kind and caring and had developed good relationships with people. People told us they were comfortable in the presence of staff.

People were informed of how to complain and the provider responded to complaints appropriately. The provider communicated openly with people and staff. Staff worked closely with professionals such as social workers and district nurses.

Quality assurance and information governance systems remained in place to monitor the quality and safety of the service. People and relatives all told us that they were happy with the service provided and the way it was managed.

Further information is in the detailed findings below