Home care service rated outstanding for third time

A home care service has been rated outstanding by inspectors for the third time in a row.

Bluebird Care Winchester, Eastleigh & Romsey division supports people of all ages across Hampshire and South Buckinghamshire to live privately.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) said the service, which is run by Belrose Ltd and was supporting 67 people at the time of the assessment, remained "safe, responsive and well-led".

CQC director Neil Cox said: "Other services should look to this report to learn from their positive findings and continued excellence."

Of the service, he said: "Leaders made sure there were enough staff to meet people's needs, with safe recruitment and thorough training in place."

Inspectors, who assessed the service in April, heard from clients who said they felt "confident" and "comfortable" with their carers.

Some people were unhappy with "slightly haphazard" call times and changes to rotas, according to the CQC report.

However, the provider worked hard to address their complaints, inspectors said.

Mr Cox said: "A third consecutive outstanding rating is a sustained standard of excellence that other services should aim to match."

Norman Murphy, managing director of Bluebird Care Winchester, Eastleigh & Romsey, said: "This remarkable accomplishment reflects our mission from day one, and our commitment to deliver exceptional, person-centred care to people in their own homes, as well as the immense dedication of our amazing staff."

Founded in 2004, Bluebird Care operates a network of 220 franchises across the UK and Ireland, according to its website.

The service said it now employed more than 300 people and had delivered more than two million care visits to thousands of customers since it started.

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