This inspection was announced and took place on 9 and 12 November 2015. We gave the provider 48 hours’ of our intention to undertake the inspection. This was because the service provides domiciliary care to people in their own homes and we needed to make sure someone would be available at the office.
Bluebird Care (Bromsgrove and Redditch) is a domiciliary care agency registered to provide personal care to people living in their own homes. At time of inspection 43 people received regulated activity out of a total of 92.
There was a registered manager in place. 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 safe and cared for by staff who had a clear understanding of the risk associated with people’s needs and who demonstrated knowledge of the different types of potential abuse to people and how to respond. People had their individual risks assessed and had plans in place to manage them. Medicines were administered by staff that had received training to do this. The provider had procedures in place to check that people received their medicines as prescribed to effectively and safely meet their health needs.
Staff had been recruited following appropriate checks and the provider had arrangements in place to make sure that there were sufficient care staff to provide support to people in their own homes. People told us they received reliable care from a regular team of staff who understood their preferences for care and support.
People were listened to and were involved in making decisions about their care and support. Staff understood they could only care for and support people who consented to being cared for. People told us that they were happy with the way in which staff supported them with preparation of meals and that staff ensured a choice.
The service was caring, people told us how they enjoyed the social events arranged by the provider and that staff were caring and supportive in the support they provided. Staff provided support that ensured people were treated with privacy and dignity. People were supported by staff to maintain their independence.
People were encouraged to express their views and give feedback about their care. People said staff listened to them and they felt confident they could raise any issues should the need arise and that action would be taken
Staff felt supported by the registered manager and that the provider gave them opportunity to progress. The registered manager was committed to developing new initiatives to support the care provided to people.
The provider ensured regular checks were completed to monitor the quality of care that people received and look at where improvements could be made.
People were positive about the care and support they received and the service as a whole.