Bluebird Care (Cherwell) achieved an Outstanding overall rating at its January 2019 inspection, improving from Good, driven by an exceptional person-centred culture, outstanding caring practices where staff routinely exceeded expectations, and highly effective leadership underpinned by real-time governance technology. No regulatory breaches or failure themes were identified.
Strengths
· Staff consistently went above and beyond, including walking miles in snow and staying with a fallen person until 1am waiting for an ambulance.
· Exceptionally strong person-centred culture driven by provider's personal experience of poor care, shared across all staff.
· Continuity of care through consistent staff allocation, enabling meaningful relationships and early detection of changes in people's conditions.
· Robust electronic monitoring via 'Pass System' enabling real-time audit, instant alerts, and care record oversight.
· Innovative staff training including a replica bedroom environment to prepare new staff before lone working.
Quality-Statement breakdown (22)
safe: Safeguarding people from abuse and improper treatmentGood
safe: Assessing and managing risks to people's safety and welfareGood
safe: Staffing levels and safe recruitmentGood
safe: Medicines managementGood
safe: Infection controlGood
safe: Accident and incident learningGood
effective: Staff skills, knowledge and trainingGood
effective: Consent and Mental Capacity Act complianceGood
effective: Health and nutritional needsGood
caring: Kindness, compassion and dignityOutstanding
caring: Person-centred and holistic care approachOutstanding
caring: Support for independence and wellbeingOutstanding
caring: Respect for diversity, culture and confidentialityOutstanding
responsive: Personalised care planningGood
responsive: Responding to changing needsGood
responsive: Complaints handlingGood
responsive: End of life care awarenessGood
responsive: Accessible information and social inclusionGood
well-led: Leadership vision and valuesOutstanding
well-led: Governance and quality assuranceOutstanding
well-led: Staff engagement and cultureOutstanding
well-led: Community partnerships and continuous improvementOutstanding
Bluebird Care (Cherwell) received a Good rating across all five key questions at its May 2016 inspection, with 91 people using the service and 58 receiving regulated personal care. The service demonstrated strong person-centred values, effective electronic monitoring of visits and medicines, and a well-embedded open culture led by an experienced registered manager.
Strengths
· People consistently felt safe and reported staff were kind, caring and respectful, with high continuity of carer assignment.
· Electronic monitoring system flagged late or missed visits and unrecorded medicines, enabling rapid office response.
· Personalised, detailed care plans and risk assessments developed with full involvement of people using the service.
· Strong staff induction described as 'intense' with competency checks before independent working; ongoing supervision and appraisal in place.
· Registered manager and provider promoted an open culture; staff felt valued, supported and able to raise concerns freely.