We carried out an inspection of Bluebird Care St Helens on the 21st and 25th September 2018. Both visits were announced to ensure someone was available to assist us. Both days included visits to the office and talking to staff and people who used the service.

The last inspection of this service was in December 2015. At that inspection the service was rated as good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection or ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats in the community. It provides a service to older adults and younger disabled adults. The service operates within the St Helens area of Merseyside with one person being supported in a neighbouring borough. The service operates from an office base close to the town centre of St Helens and is close to public transport links.

The service had a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission 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. The registered manager was not present during our visits.

We found that staff had had received training in how to protect vulnerable adults and were clear about how they could report any allegations of abuse. They were also clear about the agencies they could speak to if they had concerns about poor practice within the service.

Information was available confirming that when equipment such as hoists were used by people as part of their support; details of service dates and contractors contact details were in place.

Risk assessments were in place identifying any potential hazards within the environment that could pose a risk to people and how the risks could be minimised. These assessments extended to each person’s home environment and highlighted measures to ensure the safety of people was safeguarded.

Assessments were also in place highlighting the risks people faced from health issues or from being safely transferred from place to place within their home. These were closely monitored and reviewed regularly and were agreed by people.

Sufficient staff were available to attend to people’s needs. Staff rotas were available on a real time computerised monitoring system to ensure that calls were not missed.

Staff recruitment was robust with checks in place to ensure that new members of staff were suitable people to support vulnerable adults.

Medication management was robust and promoted the well-being and safety of people who used the service. Checks were in place to ensure that medication was given when needed and staff who administered medication received appropriate training and had their competency checked.

Staff received training and supervision appropriate to their role. A structured process of induction was in place to prepare new staff for their role.

The registered provider had taken the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act into account. This was done through training and assessments in respect of people’s capacity.

Appropriate nutritional support was provided to those who required it.

People told us that the staff team were caring and respectful at all times when providing personal care and support.

Confidential information was kept secure at all times.

Care plans were person centred and outlined the preferences of people such as terms of address. All care plans were reviewed regularly and the contents were agreed by people who used the service.

A system for people to make complaints was availabl

This was an announced inspection, carried out on 21 December 2015. We contacted the registered provider 48 hours prior to us visiting the service. Notice of the inspection was given because the manager is often out of the office supporting staff or providing care. We needed to be sure that the manager or someone who could act on their behalf would be available to support our inspection.

AJ&E Ltd trading as Bluebird Care (St Helens) is registered to provide personal care and support to people living in their own homes. The service operates from an office based close to the town centre of St Helens close to public transport links. At the time of our visit eight people were receiving personal care.

There was no registered manager in place at the time of this inspection. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission 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.

This was the first inspection of the service since its initial registration in November 2014.

Systems were in place to keep people safe. These systems included safe medicines management and assessing and minimising risks to people when their care was being delivered.

People were protected by safe recruitment practices that ensured appropriate checks were carried out prior to a member of staff starting their role.

People were supported by staff who received regular training and support for their role. This helped to ensure that people received safe and effective care and support from a well trained staff team.

People who used the service had a care plan that detailed their care and support needs. The plans contained specific information about individuals’ that staff needed to know when they were delivering care and support to people in their homes.

A complaints procedure was in place and people told us that if needed they would be happy to discuss any concerns they had with the manager of the service.

The registered provider was part of a national organisation that offered support in relation to training and human resources. In addition, policies and procedures were in place to support and guide staff on best practice for their role. These policies and procedures were updated on a regular basis. Having access to this information helped ensure that people received the care and support they required as staff had up to date knowledge of best practice.

People told us that staff were caring and respectful and it was evident from what people told us that positive relationships had been formed with the staff team.