Thumbs-up for children's hospice

BLUEBELL Wood’s “outstanding” care was praised as the children’s hospice received a rating of good from inspectors.

The Care Quality Commission report said: “Care and support was offered and provided with exceptional dignity, respect and compassion.

“Throughout the inspection, we observed staff supporting children who used the service with consideration, dignity and utmost respect.”

But the North Anston charity was also told to address shortfalls in record-keeping, storing medicines and staff training.

All feedback from children and their families about the hospice environment and facilities was very positive, the CQC said.

One relative told inspectors: “The service is amazing, exceptional and wonderful. We have been allowed to clear our minds, to make memories that we will never lose.”

Allowing children to have their pets visit them at Bluebell Wood helped keep a family feel to the place, inspectors said.

Four-legged mascot George - Bluebell Wood’s cocker spaniel - was also given a mention in the report for helping create a homely atmosphere.

Also praised was the spiritual support offered, the Shooting Stars siblings group and trustees for taking part in sessions shadowing staff.

But records of staff and volunteer training were not kept up to date, inspectors found during visits on August 30 and September 1.

The senior team admitted to inspectors that the approach had been “disjointed” and said record-keeping would be improved through HR.

The CQC noted that there were no emergency evacuation plans for children - for cases where portable ventilators would need to be moved outside, for example.

But inspectors found that the staff knew individual youngsters so well that this was not a major concern and no child was at risk.

The inspection team’s visit to Cramfit Road coincided with a visit from the Sheffield Tigers speedway team.

“We saw the children and young people enjoying meeting the riders and sitting on the bikes,” the report said.

The hospice was rated “good” overall, with an “outstanding” for care and a “requires improvement” for effective service.

Bluebell Wood chief executive Claire Rintoul said: “We are delighted that the CQC inspection rated us as outstanding in care, and that the families we support described our care as amazing, exceptional and wonderful.

“We greatly value the inspection, with the opportunity to have experts come in to tell us where we could do even better.

“Our new director of care is working with her team to make sure that our training records are absolutely up-to-date.”

She added: “Our vision remains to reach every family that needs us, and offer them the care they need, in the way they need it.

“It’s thanks to the generosity of our supporters that we can offer this outstanding care to children with life-shortening and life-threatening conditions, and really make a difference to them and their families.”