Riverside Place

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 newly registered service. This key question has been rated good. This meant people were safe and protected from avoidable harm.

This service scored 72 (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. Staff recorded accidents and incidents appropriately and in a timely way. The registered manager monitored and analysed records to identify any trends or lessons learned and communicated those with all staff.

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. Staff supported people to complete and maintain care passports to be used to share crucial information with other services in the event of a person being transferred, for example, to hospital. The care passports contained details around people’s care and support needs as well as things that were important to them and their personal preferences, likes and dislikes. They were regularly reviewed to ensure they remained up to date.

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. Staff supported people to keep them safe. A person told us, “(Staff) are 100 percent there for me with my health. (They are) excellent - everyone is great.” Staff knew people very well and were aware of how to report any safeguarding issues or concerns. Staff had completed safeguarding training. One staff member said, “Safeguarding is a priority here at Riverside Place. If I had concerns about a service user’s safety or well-being, I would follow the safeguarding policy by reporting my concerns to the designated safeguarding lead (DSL) or management immediately. I would document the issue accurately and, if necessary, escalate it to external safeguarding authorities in line with our procedures. We work to ensure that service users are protected from harm while respecting their rights and independence.”

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. When asked if they were supported to understand and manage any risks relating to their lives, one person told us, “Risk wise staff do talk with me about what could happen.” They went on to give examples, demonstrating their understanding. Staff assessed and managed risks to people’s health, safety and wellbeing effectively. People’s care records contained detailed risk assessments which supported staff to meet people’s needs whilst minimising the risks.

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 premises were safe. There were environmental risk assessments in place including fire, and regular checks and testing of the premises and equipment were carried out.

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. A health professional told us, “Staff seem skilled, competent and follow care plans well, meaning that they successfully manage often quite difficult situations well. Staff have been able to form positive relationships with our client.” People felt there were enough staff to meet their needs and keep them safe. A person told us, “Staff are always there, always around, couldn’t wish for any better. This is from my heart.” The registered manager and deputy manager determined staffing levels in line with people’s individual support needs. Staff were recruited in a safe way. The provider had an effective recruitment and selection policy and procedure in place which included all appropriate checks.

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. Staff followed the required infection control guidelines. The home was clean, and people were encouraged and supported to maintain the cleanliness of their self-contained flats.

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. During the site visit we identified that the medicines policy required updating, there was a discrepancy with a controlled drug record and the fridge thermometer required replacing. We discussed these with the registered manager who took immediate action to rectify the issues. There was no identified impact on people in relation to these issues and there were no other issues identified in relation to medicines. Staff had received up to date medicines training and regularly had their competence assessed. Regular medicine checks and audits were carried out to identify any errors and take appropriate action. People were supported to self-medicate when safe to do so and appropriate risk assessments were in place to support this.