Background to this inspection
Updated
21 November 2019
The inspection
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
Inspection team
The inspection team consisted of one inspector.
Service and service type
Riverside House is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
Notice of inspection
The inspection was announced. We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. Due to technical problems, the provider was not able to complete a Provider Information Return. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.
During the inspection
We spoke with four people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with three members of staff including the registered manager, the deputy manager, and one support worker. We also spoke to a health and social care professional who was visiting the service on the day of our inspection.
We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and multiple medicine records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and at the staff supervision records. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. The provider sent us various documents we requested during the inspection.
Updated
21 November 2019
About the service
Riverside House is a residential care home providing personal care to nine people with mental health conditions. The care home accommodates people over three floors in one adapted building. There were nine people living at the home at the time of the inspection.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People were supported by kind and caring staff who treated people as individuals and with dignity and respect. The provider had robust recruitment systems to ensure staff were safely recruited. Staff spoke knowledgably about the systems in place to safeguard people from abuse. People were supported by staff who were appropriately inducted, trained and supervised.
People told us they felt safe and systems were in place to safeguard people. Risks to them were identified and managed. Where required people were safely supported with their medicines. Infection control measures were in place to prevent cross infection. The support required by people with health and nutritional needs was identified and provided.
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’s privacy and independence were promoted. Systems were in place to deal with concerns and complaints. This enabled people to raise concerns about their care if they needed to.
People had person centred support plans in place. They were actively involved in their care and contributed to the development of care plans and reviews. People had staff support to access activities in the home and the community. People’s communication needs were identified. However, people’s end of life wishes were not explored and recorded. We have made a recommendation in relation to people’s end of life wishes being explored.
The provider had effective quality assurance systems to monitor the quality and safety of the care provided. People were asked for their views and their feedback used to improve the service and make any necessary changes.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was Good (Published 26 May 2017).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.