Blue Sky Care Ltd community services

People's experience of using this service: People and relatives were extremely satisfied with the service people received and spoke highly of staff and the registered manager. A comment from a relative summed this up by saying, "Care has surpassed what we could have ever imagined!"

People who used the service were treated with compassion and kindness and their privacy and dignity respected. We observed staff supporting people safely in their own homes.

Relatives and a person using the service told us they felt staff provided safe and extremely effective care. Staff turnover was low which people and relatives valued. People were supported by a small team of staff that understood their needs.

We found robust systems, processes and practices were followed effectively to safeguard people from situations in which they may experience harm. Risks to people's safety had been thoroughly assessed, monitored and managed so they were supported to stay safe while their freedom was respected.

People told us they received their medicines as prescribed and records reviewed confirmed this.

Safe recruitment practices were followed. Arrangements to prevent and control infection were in place.

Staff had received all the training required to support people safely. Staff received regular supervision and annual appraisals and were able to reflect on the care and support they delivered. Staff were able to access further training in addition to their mandatory training.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People had been involved in agreeing their care plans and participated in reviews of the care and support provided to them. People and family members said that staff always asked for consent when carrying out care and support tasks.

People were fully supported to live healthier lives by having on-going support to access suitable healthcare services.

People received personalised care that was exceptionally responsive to their needs. Care staff understood the importance of promoting equality and diversity by supporting people to make choices about their lives. Confidential information was kept private.

There was strong sense of leadership in the service that was open and inclusive. The registered persons focused on achieving positive outcomes for people and their staff.

People and relatives benefited from a robust professional management framework that helped care staff to understand their responsibilities so that risks and regulatory requirements were met.

The service encouraged regular feedback from people who used the service, relatives, care staff and professionals. Views were gathered through questionnaires, telephone conversations, regular face to face meetings at people's home and at staff team meetings in the office.

No complaints had been received in the last 12 months. People were introduced to lay advocates if necessary.

Comprehensive quality checks had been completed to ensure people benefited from the service being able to quickly put problems right and to innovate so that people could consistently receive safe care.

Good team work was promoted and care staff were supported to speak out if they had any concerns about people not being treated in the right way. Staff were clear about the vision and values of the service. In addition, the registered persons worked in partnership with other agencies and stakeholders to support the development of joined-up care.

More information is available in the full report.