# Bluebird Care (Swale)

*Operated by Leo 1214 Limited.*

Bluebird Care (Swale) is a CQC-regulated home-care agency in Gillingham.

## CQC Ratings

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

Rating published: 26/03/2022

## Practical info

- Postcode: ME8 7JH
- Local authority: Medway
- Region: South East
- City: Gillingham
- Last CQC check: 26/Mar/2022 - 00:00

## Inspection findings

### Other

- Finding
  - Evidence: Duty of candour understood and practised; all required CQC notifications had been made.
  - Published: 2022-03-26
- Finding
  - Evidence: Monthly newsletters to staff and people using the service, with annual quality surveys analysed and shared.
  - Published: 2022-03-26
- Finding
  - Evidence: Staff recognition and wellbeing programme including long service awards, accolades, and private healthcare cash-back benefits.
  - Published: 2022-03-26
- Finding
  - Evidence: Proactive partnership working with healthcare professionals including occupational therapists and community nurses.
  - Published: 2022-03-26
- Finding
  - Evidence: Registered manager maintained regular quality assurance audits covering medication, recruitment, late/missed calls, and care plans.
  - Published: 2022-03-26
- Finding
  - Evidence: Strong recruitment process including competency-based interviews, DBS checks, and structured induction with shadowing.
  - Published: 2022-03-26
- Finding
  - Evidence: Open learning culture with quarterly incident analyses and lessons learned team meetings.
  - Published: 2022-03-26
- Finding
  - Evidence: Electronic care planning system monitored medicines and generated alerts for missed administrations.
  - Published: 2022-03-26
- Finding
  - Evidence: Robust safeguarding training in place; all staff could demonstrate recognition of abuse signs.
  - Published: 2022-03-26
- Finding
  - Evidence: People reported feeling safe and well supported, with consistent care staff arriving on time and staying for the full duration of visits.
  - Published: 2022-03-26
- Finding
  - Evidence: Staff demonstrated good understanding of MCA and actively supported people to make their own choices.
  - Published: 2021-10-30
- Finding
  - Evidence: 100% of people were satisfied with carer support in the most recent annual survey.
  - Published: 2021-10-30
- Finding
  - Evidence: Robust quality assurance including monthly audits, spot checks, annual surveys and six-monthly franchise audits.
  - Published: 2021-10-30
- Finding
  - Evidence: Open and inclusive culture with staff encouraged to contribute ideas through supervisions and team meetings.
  - Published: 2021-10-30
- Finding
  - Evidence: Strong continuity of care through small staff teams, enabling prompt identification of changes in health needs.
  - Published: 2021-10-30
- Finding
  - Evidence: Medicines were managed safely with competency checks on administration and monthly MAR audits.
  - Published: 2021-10-30
- Finding
  - Evidence: Detailed, person-centred care plans were co-produced with people and regularly reviewed and updated.
  - Published: 2021-10-30
- Finding
  - Evidence: Staff were safely recruited, well trained including specialist areas such as dementia, palliative care, oxygen therapy and stroke awareness.
  - Published: 2021-10-30
- Finding
  - Evidence: People and relatives consistently reported feeling safe and well supported by kind, caring staff who went above and beyond.
  - Published: 2021-10-30
- **communication_with_families** _(minor)_
  - Evidence: A one or two relatives said they felt they were not always responded to quickly when they emailed the registered manager or office.
  - Published: 2021-10-30
- **missed_or_late_visits** _(minor)_
  - Evidence: I called because we weren't always getting the full half hour call, they did speak to the staff but then it slipped again. It's frustrating.
  - Published: 2021-10-30
- **complaints_handling** _(minor)_
  - Evidence: They don't seem to listen, the carers are great but the registered manager or care supervisors don't always seem to take on board my concerns.
  - Published: 2021-10-30

## 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/1-2556254741

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