Ridgeway Care Centre

Updated 7 June 2022

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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection was completed by two inspectors.

Service and service type

Ridgeway Care Centre is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Ridgeway Care Centre is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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.

At the time of our inspection there was not a registered manager in post. There was a new manager in post and they had submitted their application to register.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

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 who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us. We also spoke with two people living at the home and two relatives to gather their views of the care provided.

We reviewed the care plans for three people living at the home and key parts of other people’s care plans to validate information in the management records we reviewed. We also looked at records relating to the administration of medicines and audits on the quality and safety of the care provided.

We spoke with the provider’s clinical lead, the manager, a senior care worker, two care workers and a member of the domestic staff.

Updated 7 June 2022

About the service

Ridgeway Care Centre is a residential care home providing personal care for up to 32 people. The service provides support to older people some of whom may be living with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 28 people using the service.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People received medicines safely. However, at times some people’s medicines were not in stock. In addition, the provider’s policy for the safe management of medicines was not fully followed.

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.

The provider had systems in place to monitor the quality of the home. Areas where improvement was needed had already been identified, for example medicines and training. Action plans were in place to improve the quality and safety of the care provided.

There were enough staff to meet people’s needs. People told us staff were kind and that they had a good relationship with them. Staff provided safe care for people and were knowledgeable about their roles. However, training was not fully up to date.

The home was clean hygienic and a pleasant environment to spend time in.

People’s care plans were up to date and accurately reflected their needs. Risks were identified and appropriate action taken to keep people safe. People were able to receive visits from their relatives and there was a programme of activities to support their well-being.

The manager worked collaborately with outside agencies such as the community nurses and safeguarding to ensure people were safe and their needs were being met.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 3 December 2019).

The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

Recommendations

We have made a recommendation about the management of medicines.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.