Background to this inspection
Updated
3 August 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 was conducted by one inspector.
Service and service type
Rivers Reach 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. However, the registered manager was not able to be present on the day of the inspection.
Notice of inspection
This inspection was unannounced.
What we did before the inspection
Before the inspection we reviewed the information we had received about the service, including previous inspection reports and notifications. Notifications are information about specific important events the service is legally required to send to us.
We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and their medication records. We looked at a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including records of accidents and incidents, audits of the service and staff training records.
We spoke with three people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with three members of staff and the provider’s representative.
Following the inspection
We sought feedback from professionals who work with the service and we gathered information from three relatives of people living at the service.
The registered manager was not present during the inspection. Therefore, we spoke to them on the telephone following the inspection and gathered further information about the management of the service.
We looked at records relating to the management of the service including audits, staff supervision, appraisals and further care records.
The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. 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. However, we did use some of the information the provider had previously sent us in a provider information return.
Updated
3 August 2019
About the service
Rivers Reach is a care home. Rivers Reach is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to five people and predominantly supports people living with a learning disability and mental health needs. At the time of the inspection there were three people living at the service.
The care provider is a national care organisation with locations of care homes across England.
The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them. There were deliberately no identifying signs outside to indicate it was a care home. Staff were also discouraged from wearing anything that suggested they were care staff when coming and going with people.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible to gain new skills and become more independent. People were actively supported to participate in activities of daily living.
People told us they were happy living at Rivers Reach and felt supported to live their lives. One person told us, “I love living here, it is the best.”
Staff were committed to delivering care in a person-centred way based on people's preferences and wishes. The staff team were knowledgeable about the people living at the service and had built trusting and meaningful relationships with them.
People were cared for in a way that respected their privacy, dignity and promoted their independence. Staff supported people to access the community for social opportunities and voluntary employment.
The provider had systems in place to encourage and respond to any complaints or compliments from people or those close to them. There was regular involvement by families and relatives and external services.
People received the support of external health and social care professionals when required and the service worked in partnership with external professionals, acting on guidance and advice where needed.
Staff were recruited safely, and sufficient numbers were employed to ensure people's care and social needs were met. Staff knew how to keep people safe from harm.
People received their medicines safely and as prescribed. Appropriate arrangements were in place for obtaining, recording, administering and disposing of prescribed medicines.
Staff had received appropriate training and support to enable them to carry out their role safely.
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.
There was a clearly defined management structure and regular oversight and input from senior
management. Staff were positive about the management of the service and told us the registered manager was very supportive and approachable. Any concerns or worries were listened to, addressed and used as opportunities to make continuous improvements to the service.
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 18 January 2017). At this inspection the service remains Good.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Rivers Reach on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.
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.