# Bluebird Care (Northumberland South)

*Operated by WA & S Associates Ltd.*

Bluebird Care (Northumberland South) is a CQC-regulated home-care agency in Cramlington.

## CQC Ratings

| Key question | Rating |
| --- | --- |
| Overall | Good |
| Safe | Good |
| Effective | Good |
| Caring | Good |
| Responsive | Good |
| Well-led | Good |

Rating published: 11/08/2023

## Practical info

- Postcode: NE23 7BF
- Local authority: Northumberland
- Region: North East
- City: Cramlington
- Last CQC check: 11/Aug/2023 - 00:00

## Inspection findings

### Other

- Finding
  - Evidence: Annual provider survey used to capture feedback from people using the service and staff
  - Published: 2023-08-11
- Finding
  - Evidence: Business continuity plan and extreme weather risk assessments in place
  - Published: 2023-08-11
- Finding
  - Evidence: Oral health improvement initiative introduced with external trainer and senior staff completing assessments
  - Published: 2023-08-11
- Finding
  - Evidence: Staff worked in partnership with occupational therapists, district nurses and physiotherapists
  - Published: 2023-08-11
- Finding
  - Evidence: Registered manager understood duty of candour responsibilities and had up-to-date policy
  - Published: 2023-08-11
- Finding
  - Evidence: Senior carers completed monthly medication checks and medicines matters newsletters circulated to staff
  - Published: 2023-08-11
- Finding
  - Evidence: Electronic records system tracked and analysed medication errors to support lessons learnt
  - Published: 2023-08-11
- Finding
  - Evidence: Continuity of care prioritised; people received support from familiar staff
  - Published: 2023-08-11
- **leadership** _(moderate)_
  - Evidence: CQC had received some whistleblowing concerns from staff employed by the service in the last 12 months. These included allegations of a culture of bullying within the service.
  - Published: 2023-08-11
- Finding
  - Evidence: Appropriate safeguarding procedures in place with staff aware of policy and lessons learned from minor information breach.
  - Published: 2021-10-30
- Finding
  - Evidence: People and relatives described being actively involved in care decisions and reported high satisfaction across all areas.
  - Published: 2021-10-30
- Finding
  - Evidence: Active involvement in multi-agency Aging Well in Northumberland group with staff serving as Aging Well champions.
  - Published: 2021-10-30
- Finding
  - Evidence: Registered manager highly accessible and supportive, including staying late weekly and responding on days off.
  - Published: 2021-10-30
- Finding
  - Evidence: Robust quality monitoring including spot checks, telephone quality surveys, staff meetings, and exit interviews.
  - Published: 2021-10-30
- Finding
  - Evidence: Strong continuity of care with people supported by the same carer or small team of familiar workers.
  - Published: 2021-10-30
- Finding
  - Evidence: Electronic care and medicine records system introduced enabling real-time updates, immediate alerts for missed medications, and accessible centralised records.
  - Published: 2021-10-30
- Finding
  - Evidence: People consistently reported feeling safe and that staff always arrived on time and stayed the full allocated period with no missed calls.
  - Published: 2021-10-30
- **record_keeping** _(minor)_
  - Evidence: the service had identified a minor breach of such information, through an administrative error. The provider had responded appropriately and informed the Information Commissioner.
  - Published: 2021-10-30

### safe

- Finding
  - Learning lessons when things go wrong
  - Published: 2023-08-11
- Finding
  - Preventing and controlling infection
  - Published: 2023-08-11
- Finding
  - Using medicines safely
  - Published: 2023-08-11
- Finding
  - Staffing and recruitment
  - Published: 2023-08-11
- Finding
  - Assessing risk, safety monitoring and management
  - Published: 2023-08-11
- Finding
  - Systems and processes to safeguard people from the risk of abuse
  - Published: 2023-08-11

### well_led

- Finding
  - Working in partnership with others
  - Published: 2023-08-11
- Finding
  - Continuous learning and improving care
  - Published: 2023-08-11
- Finding
  - Engaging and involving people using the service, the public and staff
  - Published: 2023-08-11
- Finding
  - Managers and staff being clear about their roles, and understanding quality performance, risks and regulatory requirements
  - Published: 2023-08-11
- Finding
  - How the provider understands and acts on the duty of candour
  - Published: 2023-08-11
- Finding
  - Promoting a positive culture that is person-centred, open, inclusive and empowering
  - Published: 2023-08-11

## Source

Data published by the [Care Quality Commission](https://www.cqc.org.uk/) under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Canonical page: https://homecarecompass.co.uk/agency/1-1124138281

HomeCare Compass is an independent guide and is not affiliated with the CQC.