Bluebird Care sees 133% increase in ‘Outstanding’ ratings from the Care Quality Commission

Bluebird Care is celebrating after 21 of its care services were rated ‘Outstanding’ in 2018 by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the independent regulator of health and social care services in England.   The rare rating – which only 1% of home care providers achieve – was awarded to the services following comprehensive inspections throughout the year. It means that during 2018, Bluebird Care saw a 133% increase (from nine services to 21) achieving an Overall ‘Outstanding’ rating.

In a further achievement, the number of Bluebird Care providers with an ‘Overall Good rating’ and one ‘Outstanding-rated ‘key line of enquiry’’ in a CQC report increased by 50% - from 10 to 15.
 
In Wales and Northern Ireland, all five of Bluebird Care’s offices were deemed fully compliant with their respective regulators.
 
There was further good news in Scotland, where the Care Inspectorate Scotland rated two of Bluebird Care’s five services as ‘Excellent,’ and two as ‘Very Good.’
 
Bluebird Care is one of the UK’s leading home care and live in care providers. They offer a unique service of tailored care visits, from 30 minutes to full live in support, which aim to provide services that support customers to maintain their chosen lifestyles.
 
Bluebird Care Winchester, Eastleigh & Romsey and Bluebird Care Alton & Alresford have been rated ‘Outstanding’ by CQC, in all five areas of their report, making them two of the best home care providers in the UK.
 
For Bluebird Care Winchester, Eastleigh & Romsey, the CQC commented that “people were placed at the heart of the service. This ensured a culture that is “professional, compassionate and innovative.” In particular, the efforts of staff were praised, who were “caring and creative in overcoming obstacles and finding opportunities to go ‘the extra mile’ in order to promote people’s independence and wellbeing.” This included wide ranging training, a career development programme and an electronic monitoring system utilised by staff. 
 
For Bluebird Care Alton & Alresford, one customer said: “The care workers are always professional and friendly. They respect me as my own person. I feel safe with them.” When asked if the care and support service they received from staff was effective, another customer remarked: “They are very efficient. They get on with helping and I am happy.”
 
Another ‘Outstanding’-rated service was Bluebird Care Westminster, following an inspection in January 2018. CQC inspectors found its team of staff to be “kind, compassionate and caring,” whilst knowing “how to provide the care and support [service users] required whilst also going the extra mile for them.”
 
Bluebird Care Peterborough & Rutland was also rated ‘Outstanding’ following an inspection in February 2018. Inspectors reported a “strong culture of innovation with the service.” This included comprehensive efforts to introduce successful initiatives, such as an electronic care planning and call monitoring system and the development of individual care plans – all enhancing the “person-centred nature” that Bluebird Care holds in its ethos.
 
With a caring and positive culture at the heart of what it does, and taking the welfare and happiness of the entire Bluebird Care family seriously, the provider aims to create a workforce who not only display excellence in providing personalised care but remain proud to be a part of Bluebird Care.
 
Bluebird Care Edinburgh achieved ratings of Grade 6 across the board from the Care Inspectorate, the independent regulator of care services in Scotland. The grades were received after a comprehensive inspection in December 2018 which deemed the care provider’s quality of care and support and quality of staffing both ‘Excellent,’ in its Quality Framework, the highest rating possible. The news follows a great 2018 for Bluebird Care in Scotland. Earlier on in the year, Bluebird Care Glasgow South was inspected and maintained its ‘Excellent’ Grade 6s for the fifth year in a row.
 
Neil Murray, Head of Compliance and Quality at Bluebird Care, said:
 
“All in all, 2018 has been a year of success for Bluebird Care. We are delighted to have achieved so many fantastic statistics of which we can all be very proud.
 
“In England, the CQC has directed the highest level of praise at an impressive 21 of our providers – a hugely exciting statistic for us.
 
“And, in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, we’ve found that the quality of our services has remained stable with some very notable improvements.
  
“Quality is an absolutely key aspect of the Bluebird Care service and we look forward to seeing our providers continue to go from strength to strength.”
 
Yvonne Hignell, Managing Director at Bluebird Care, said:
 
“This is fantastic news for Bluebird Care as a whole – we are delighted to be one of the leading home care providers in the UK.
 
“Our members of staff strive every day to put our customers at the centre of what we do. We are delighted that regulators across the UK have recognised this.
 
“We will continue to ensure we provide only the best possible care every single day.”
 
“Our care workers are the lifeblood of our organisation, they continually go above and beyond and this is demonstrated in these excellent results.”