Bluebird Care Oswestry

On this page

• Overview
• Learning culture
• Safe systems, pathways and transitions
• Safeguarding
• Involving people to manage risks
• Safe environments
• Safe and effective staffing
• Infection prevention and control
• Medicines optimisation

Safe – this means we looked for evidence that people were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. At our last inspection we rated this key question requires improvement. At this inspection the rating has changed to good. This meant people were safe and protected from avoidable harm.

This service scored 75 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

The service had a proactive and positive culture of safety, based on openness and honesty. They listened to concerns about safety and investigated and reported safety events. Lessons were learnt to continually identify and embed good practice. People consistently told us the staff and the management team listened to them and responded appropriately. For example, 1 person told us they spoke with staff about how to put things in their home in a certain way. This helped their independence and maintained their safety. This person went on to say this increased their confidence as they felt safe again in their own home.

The service worked with people and healthcare partners to establish and maintain safe systems of care, in which safety was managed or monitored. They made sure there was continuity of care, including when people moved between different services. Not everyone receiving care from the provider needed staff or management to support them accessing additional healthcare as they could often do this for themselves. However, when it was needed, staff supported people to contact other healthcare providers and ensured the right information was passed to the right person to ensure safe care continued between all those involved.

The service worked with people and healthcare partners to understand what being safe meant to them and the best way to achieve that. They concentrated on improving people’s lives while protecting their right to live in safety, free from bullying, harassment, abuse, discrimination, avoidable harm and neglect. The service shared concerns quickly and appropriately. All those we spoke with told us they felt safe with the staff supporting them. Staff members had been trained in identifying abuse and ill treatment and knew what to do if they suspected wrongdoing. For example, supporting the person to contact the Police or the Local Authority if they were worried about anything. We saw the management acted quickly on any concerns raised with them.

The service worked with people to understand and manage risks by thinking holistically. They provided care to meet people’s needs that was safe, supportive and enabled people to do the things that mattered to them. People told us they were involved in assessment of risk associated with their care and support. For example, people had assessments associated with the risk of trips or falls, mobility, diet and nutrition. When there were risks, people were supported to access additional services, for example, physiotherapy assessments.

The service detected and controlled potential risks in the care environment. They made sure equipment, facilities and technology supported the delivery of safe care. People told us when they first started to receive a service from Bluebird Care Oswestry a member of staff completed an environment assessment to ensure it was safe for the delivery of care. One person told us, “They (staff) checked to make sure things like my smoke detectors worked and that the path was clean and clear, so I didn’t slip over. I liked that, it helped me feel just a little bit safer.”

The service made sure there were enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff, who received effective support, supervision and development. They worked together well to provide safe care that met people’s individual needs. All those we spoke with stated staff arrived as expected and stayed for the agreed amount of time. One person said, “Sometimes they (staff) are just a little early. But I don’t mind this as I am usually awake, and it helps me start the day. I usually see the same faces and they know just how I like things which is reassuring.”

The service assessed and managed the risk of infection. They detected and controlled the risk of it spreading and shared concerns with appropriate agencies promptly. People were supported by staff who had received training in infection prevention and control and knew how best to support them in a safe way. One person said, “Staff always have the right equipment with them. They are constantly changing their gloves and wear aprons if needed. I did feel a little uneasy about this to begin with, but I completely see it is needed.”

The service made sure that medicines and treatments were safe and met people’s needs, capacities and preferences. They involved people in planning, including when changes happened. Not everyone needed support with their medicines. When they did this was given as prescribed by a trained and competent staff team. One person said, “I do like my tablets in a specific way. I had to tell the staff a couple of times just to make sure, but they all get it now and I am very happy.” Staff members had received training in safe administration of medicines and were assessed as competent before supporting people. Managers completed regular checks to ensure people received their medicines on time and in a safe way.