Bluebird Care (Stevenage & North Herts) achieved an overall rating of Good across all five key questions at its August 2023 inspection, with well-led improving from Requires Improvement. Minor gaps were noted in care plan outcome documentation and accessible information formats, but no breaches of regulation were identified.
Concerns (2)
minor
Care planning
: “Care plans needed further development on documenting what was important to people relating to people's outcomes.”
minorCommunication with families: “one person shared that they required their documents to be printed in a larger format so they could read the documents being sent.”
Strengths
· Staff knew people well and understood how to protect them from abuse, working effectively with other agencies.
· Risk assessments detailed how to manage identified risks whilst providing the least restrictive level of support.
· Staff received specific training relating to people's health and well-being, including competency assessments for medicines administration.
· People and relatives consistently described staff as kind, caring, and respectful, going above and beyond.
· Registered manager had effective quality assurance systems reliable in identifying improvements needed.
Quality-Statement breakdown (21)
safe: Systems and processes to safeguard people from the risk of abuseGood
safe: Assessing risk, safety monitoring and managementGood
safe: Staffing and recruitmentGood
safe: Using medicines safelyGood
safe: Preventing and controlling infectionGood
safe: Learning lessons when things go wrongGood
effective: Assessing people's needs and choices; delivering care in line with standards, guidance and the lawGood
effective: Staff support: induction, training, skills and experienceGood
effective: Supporting people to eat and drink enough to maintain a balanced dietGood
effective: Staff working with other agencies to provide consistent, effective, timely careGood
effective: Ensuring consent to care and treatment in line with law and guidanceGood
caring: Ensuring people are well treated and supported; respecting equality and diversityGood
caring: Supporting people to express their views and be involved in making decisions about their careGood
caring: Respecting and promoting people's privacy, dignity and independenceGood
responsive: Planning personalised care to ensure people have choice and control and to meet their needs and preferencesGood
responsive: Meeting people's communication needsGood
responsive: Improving care quality in response to complaints or concernsGood
well-led: Promoting a positive culture that is person-centred, open, inclusive and empoweringGood
well-led: Managers and staff being clear about their roles, and understanding quality performance, risks and regulatory requirementsGood
well-led: Engaging and involving people using the service, the public and staffGood