Bluebird Care (Cambridge and South Cambs) provides personal care to people who live in their own homes. There were 65 people using the service when we visited.
This announced inspection took place on 15 January 2016.
There was a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) 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.
Before the inspection we looked at all of the information that we held about the service. This included information from notifications received by us. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to send to us by law.
People’s health and personal needs were effectively met. Systems were in place to support people with the management of their medicines. People received their prescribed medicines appropriately.
Staff received training to protect people from harm and they were knowledgeable about reporting any suspected harm. There were a sufficient number of staff available and recruitment procedures ensured that only suitable staff were employed. Risk assessments were in place for people’s assessed risks and actions were taken to reduce these risks.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is required by law to monitor the operation of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and report on what we find. People’s rights to make decisions about their care were respected. Staff were acting in accordance with the Mental Capacity Act 2005 so that people’s rights were being promoted.
The provider had procedures in place in relation to the application of the MCA. The registered manager and the staff were knowledgeable about these. They were aware of the circumstances they needed to be aware of if people’s mental capacity to make certain decisions about their care changed. Staff we spoke with confirmed they had received training regarding MCA and DoLS.
Staff were supported and received ongoing trained to do their job. The staff were in contact with a range of health care professionals to ensure that care and support was well coordinated. Health professionals we spoke with were complimentary and positive about the service. Risk assessments were in place to ensure that care and support could be safely provided.
People’s privacy and dignity were respected and their care and support was provided in a caring and a patient way.
A complaints procedure was in place and complaints had been responded to the satisfaction of the complainant. People felt able to raise concerns with the staff at any time.
The provider had quality assurance processes and procedures in place to monitor the quality and safety of people’s care. People and their relatives were able to make suggestions in relation to the support and care provided.