Bluebell Court Care Home

Updated 27 March 2021

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of CQC’s response to the coronavirus pandemic we are looking at the preparedness of care homes in relation to infection prevention and control. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection control and prevention measures the provider has in place.

This inspection took place on 5 March 2021 and was announced.

Updated 27 March 2021

About the service: Bluebell Court is a purpose built care home in the Broughton area of Salford, providing both residential and nursing care for up to 69 older adults. There were 61 people living in the home at the time of inspection. There were two floors with lift and stair access, there were a variety of communal areas on each floor including, lounges, dining rooms and a sensory room. Outside there is a garden area which was being developed further to enable people to enjoy gardening.

Why we inspected: This was the first inspection since the home registered separately from The Willows in July 2018. We had brought the inspection forward in response to some concerns raised by a whistle blower relating to moving and handling practices. A specialist nurse advisor with relevant experience was part of the inspection team to support us to consider these concerns. We found evidence of good practice and could not substantiate the concerns raised. We discuss this in more detail in the safe domain of this report.

People’s experience of using this service: People living in the home received good care which was responsive to their needs and preferences. Staff were skilled and received regular training to ensure they were up to date with their knowledge and best practice principles. People told us they felt safe and supported by staff who understood their needs. People had been supported to manage the risks they encountered in their daily life in ways that promoted their choice and independence. Risk assessments and care plans had been regularly evaluated to ensure they reflected any changes. People were supported to maintain their health and wellbeing and were referred to other health and social care professionals in a timely way. Most people said they enjoyed the food though some people felt it was just alright. People had a choice of when they ate their main meal as there were two cooked meals a day and alternate options if preferred.

Staff were observed to be kind and caring when interacting with people living in the home and with each other. Most people told us they felt cared for by the staff and praised their patience and sympathetic support. However one person told us they would like to have more time with the staff.

The home was well led by a committed registered manager who was accessible to all. The staff team worked well together and had shared values and a commitment to providing high quality care for people living in the home. The management team had robust systems in place which ensured care was provided as described in line with best practice guidelines.

This met the characteristics of good overall with requires improvement in one area. This was because the home had not submitted some notifications required by the regulations to CQC.

More information is in the full report.