Archived: Bluebird Care Scarborough and Bridlington

Bluebird Care (Scarborough and Bridlington) is a domiciliary care agency which is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to provide regulated activities of personal care to people living with dementia, sensory impairment, learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorder, mental health and physical disability in their own homes. At the time of the inspection, regulated activity was provided to 24 people.

CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do, we also consider any wider social care provided.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People told us they felt safe with the staff who supported them. Staff were clear on types of abuse to look out for and how to raise their concerns when required. Processes ensured any incidents were routinely investigated with outcomes and actions implemented to help keep people safe.

Risks associated with people's care were assessed to help staff provide safe care and staff also had access to information to keep them safe when entering people’s homes. Staff had good access to personal protective equipment to manage the risks associated with the spread of infection including COVID-19 and adhered to government guidance to protect people.

Where people required support to take their medicines, this was done safely as prescribed with appropriate record keeping checked for accuracy.

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.

Staff received appropriate induction, training, professional development, supervision and appraisal as necessary to enable and support them to carry out the duties they were employed to perform.

Management completed a range of audits and checks to maintain standards of service. Provider oversight supported the sharing of best practice for the benefit of individuals who were supported.

The service was not providing care to anyone with a learning disability. However, we expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted.

Right support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.

The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture.

Right support: Model of care and setting maximised people's choice, control and independence;

People told us they knew when to expect visits and that visits respected their preferred times. People spoke positively about the service they received and the way the service was managed. The new manager was passionate about providing people with a personalised service to help them remain living as independent as possible in their own homes. People told us that staff supported them when their care needs changed to ensure they were able to retain their independence.

Right care: Care was person-centred and promoted people's dignity, privacy and human rights;

People told us staff were respectful, caring and understanding around people's

emotional and physical needs. People were involved in planning their care and support. Care was delivered following a robust assessment of needs to ensure people’s wishes preferences and any personal characteristics were recorded and supported.

Right culture: The ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of leaders and care staff ensured people using services led confident, inclusive and empowered lives; The culture of the service was open and empowered individuals to express their views and be in control of their lives with the support of staff. People told us they felt confident to approach the management team and that their suggestions would be listened to.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for the service under the previous provider at the previous premises was good, published on 12 March 2018. You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Bluebird Care Scarborough and Bridlington on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.