RivaHealth Clinics

On this page

• Overview
• Learning culture
• Safe systems, pathways and transitions
• Safeguarding
• Involving people to manage risks
• Safe environments
• Safe and effective staffing
• Infection prevention and control
• Medicines optimisation

Safe – this means we looked for evidence that people were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. This is the first assessment for this service. This key question has been rated as good. This meant people were safe and protected from avoidable harm.

This service scored 75 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

The provider had a proactive and positive culture of safety, based on openness and honesty. Staff listened to concerns about safety and investigated and reported safety events. Lessons were learnt to continually identify and embed good practice.

The provider accurately documented all accidents and incidents. Following each event, reflective practices were conducted to describe the incident, assess the support provided to both staff and the person involved, which considered their emotional responses, and analyse the circumstances surrounding the incident. A conclusion was drawn from the incident, and an action plan was developed to identify how future occurrences could be prevented.

The provider worked with people and healthcare partners to establish and maintain safe systems of care, in which safety was managed or monitored. They made sure there was continuity of care, including when people moved between different services.

The provider took a proactive approach to managing people’s safety and well-being during transitions between services. Care and support were tailored to each person’s pace, allowing introductions to the service to occur gradually over weeks or even months. This process helped minimise the risk of placement breakdowns and promoted stability.

A person we spoke with was relatively new to the service and spoke positively about the moving in experience and staff support.

The provider worked with people and healthcare partners to understand what being safe meant to them and the best way to achieve that. Staff concentrated on improving people’s lives while protecting their right to live in safety, free from bullying, harassment, abuse, discrimination, avoidable harm and neglect. The provider shared concerns quickly and appropriately.

People were supported by a staff team that actively promoted safeguarding and well-being. We observed staff advising people on how to stay safe, such as smoking responsibly and accessing the community securely. Staff demonstrated confidence in reporting any concerns that might involve safeguarding. They told us they would escalate issues to their seniors or managers and were also aware of their ability to contact the local authority safeguarding team if needed.

Staff received annual training on safeguarding vulnerable adults from abuse. They told us that safeguarding was regularly discussed both in staff meetings and during supervision sessions to reinforce their knowledge and awareness.

People told us they felt safe being supported by the staff team. A person told us, “The staff are very nice. Very helpful. Yes, I could mention anything concerning me, to them.”

Ongoing assessments of people’s capacity were conducted to ensure that decisions were made safely while promoting individual choice and autonomy. No one supported by the provider was subject to any restrictions on their liberty. We observed regular communication between professionals and the provider, which always focused on acting in the best interests of the person.

A staff member told us, “If I have a safeguarding concern, I follow my organisation’s safeguarding policy. I would record the concern factually and accurately, then report it immediately to my line manager or the designated safeguarding lead who is the registered manager.”

The provider worked with people to understand and manage risks by thinking holistically. Staff provided care to meet people’s needs that was safe, supportive and enabled people to do the things that mattered to them.

Risks to people’s safety were thoroughly assessed, with clear and effective measures put in place to reduce potential harm and ensure their well-being. Staff received clear guidance to ensure the safety of both themselves and the people they supported.

Staff were provided with additional training in risk assessing, multi-agency public protection arrangements (MAPPA), supported accommodation, and managing complex safeguarding for young people and adults. This supported staff’s awareness on risk assessment and safety planning and trauma-informed approaches.

When people were assessed as being at risk of substance misuse, violence, or aggression, risk assessments outlined specific strategies for staff to prevent escalation. We observed that these strategies were consistently implemented, and staff confidently described the actions they would take to de-escalate challenging situations and minimise the risk of escalation.

Potential risks within the person's home were thoroughly assessed, including fire, gas, electrical safety, and overall security measures.

A staff member told us, “You have to read and follow the risk assessmentthat is for the service user when working. You need to assess what risk is around both you and the others and know the likelihood of it happening and what controls need to be taken to avoid or remove the risk.”

The provider detected and controlled potential risks in the care environment. They made sure equipment, facilities and technology supported the delivery of safe care.

The provider ensured that homes and flats were safe environments for both the person and the staff working within them. The provider reported working positively with landlords when there were any improvements needing to be made to people’s properties.

The provider ensured fire safety was regularly monitored and maintained to protect both person and staff. Working smoke alarms were fitted in people’s properties.

The provider made sure there were enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff, who received effective support, supervision and development. They worked together well to provide safe care that met people’s individual needs.

The provider adhered to robust and thorough safe recruitment processes to ensure that all staff employed were suitable for their roles. This included conducting comprehensive background checks, such as Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks and carefully reviewing employment history and references. Additionally, the provider assessed each staff member’s skills, experience, and competencies through interviews to confirm they could meet people’s specific needs. Ongoing training and supervision further ensured that staff maintained high standards of practice and continued to develop their professional capabilities in line with regulatory requirements. Staff had received specialised training in supporting people with learning disabilities, autism and mental health illness.

A consistent and well-established staff team was assigned to support each person, ensuring continuity of care. Staff confirmed, they always supported the same person or group of people for continuity.

A staff member told us, “I have received training in mental capacity, mental health awareness, safeguarding adults and children and learning disability - Oliver McGowan training as well.”

Staff were provided with training in de-escalation techniques from a recognised organisation and were able to explain in detail when they would be required to use such techniques.

The provider assessed and managed the risk of infection. They detected and controlled the risk of it spreading and shared concerns with appropriate agencies promptly.

People were supported to maintain clean and tidy living spaces. Staff had access to personal protective equipment when needed and had completed comprehensive training in infection prevention and control.

The provider made sure that medicines and treatments were safe and met people’s needs, capacities and preferences. Staff involved people in planning, including when changes happened.

Medicines were administered safely, with most people requiring prompting to manage their medication and prescription orders. Staff underwent thorough training and competency assessments to ensure the safe administration of medicines. Governance processes demonstrated strong compliance with medicines optimisation standards.

One person was being supported to be in control of ordering their medicines and ensuring they had enough supplies.