Bluebird Care (Stroud and Cirencester)

Updated 18 November 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 checked 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 comprehensive inspection took place on 30 June, 10 and 12 July 2017. The provider was given 72 hours notice of the inspection because the location provides a domiciliary care service and we needed to be sure that someone would be in. One inspector carried out the inspection which included a visit to the office of the service and visits to the homes of four people using the service. We also spoke on the telephone with one person using the service and the relative of another person. We also received the views of relatives of people using the service by e-mail.

We spoke with the registered manager, two of the directors, the care coordinator, the care supervisor and nine care staff. During our visit to the office we reviewed records for three people using the service and checked records relating to staff recruitment, support and training and the management of the service. Before the inspection the provider completed a provider information return (PIR) in March 2015. The PIR 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. Due to technical problems the information did not reach us. However the provider gave us a printed copy of their PIR submission during our inspection. Before this inspection we reviewed information we have about the service including notifications. A notification is a report about important events which the service is required to send us by law.

Updated 18 November 2017

Bluebird Care (Stroud and Cirencester) is based in Stroud, Gloucestershire and provides personal care to people living in their homes. At the time of our inspection visit this was being provided to 37 people.

At the last inspection on 30 and 31 March 2015 the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the service to be Outstanding.

We heard positive comments about the service such as “what a brilliant team they are” and “Nothing is too much trouble”.

The service was outstandingly caring and understood the value of people maintaining as much independence as possible. Staff were exceptional in empowering people to maintain and regain their independence. This enabled people to return to previous roles and to take up their old hobbies and interests. People were treated with kindness and their privacy and dignity was respected. The service was proactive in enabling people to give their views about the care and support they received.

People were enabled to live safely as risks to their safety were identified, assessed and appropriate action taken to keep people safe. People's medicines were safely managed. 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 received personalised care and the service was outstandingly responsive to the changing needs of people living with dementia. Staff made use of electronic care plans to ensure they remained up to date with the support people needed at the end of their lives. The service was outstandingly responsive to the needs of their community and continuously reviewed the needs of their local population to inform their service development.

People were cared for by staff who received appropriate training and support. Systems were in place to ensure staff were suitable to work with people. Quality assurance systems were used to improve the service and these included seeking the views of people using the service, their representatives and staff.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.