Rivers

Updated 17 January 2025

Date of Assessment: 11 February to 11 March 2025. The service is a residential service providing personal care to up to 17 people. The service provides support to

younger adults with a learning disability, physical disability, and sensory impairments. At the time of our inspection 17 people lived the service. We have assessed the service against ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ guidance to make judgements about whether the provider guaranteed people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice, and independence. The service is larger than current best practice recommendations. However, the size of the service having any negative impact on people was lessened as the service was being delivered within 2 separate houses called Rivers and Cabin. At our last inspection the service was in breach of legal regulations regarding notifications of incidents and good governance, as well as recommendations made in relation to safeguarding and staffing. The service had made improvements and is no longer in breach of legal regulations. Although we received further concerns regarding staffing levels, safeguarding procedures were now followed and when concerns were raised appropriate actions were taken. Quality monitoring systems were now improved but needed further development to make sure they always led to improvements where needed. Medicines were generally managed well. Staff understood and managed risks, however some additional information was found to be missing from some documentation. This was rectified during the inspection. Staff worked with agencies involved in people’s care.

Updated 17 January 2025

People and relatives were generally happy about the care received, although we received mixed feedback regarding communication and staffing. Some relatives and 2 people, told us there were not enough staff. A person told us they did not get their 1-1 hours and comments from relatives included, “I don’t know if relative gets hours.” And, “They struggle with staffing sometimes, not dangerous. River and Cabin two residences, sometimes [staff] need to be in Rivers and not enough staff in the Cabin.” Although relatives felt involved, some felt communication could be improved. Comments included, “Only thing communication could be [improved], not great all the time, has improved, we have made our feelings known to be informed of things, but sometimes they fall through the net.” And, “Communication not good, previously erratic but has improved, nothing perfect but occasionally something slips.” We shared the concerns with the registered manager who provided assurances they were addressing them. A person told us, “On the whole it’s okay living here.” Comments from relatives included, “The whole ambience is lovely, all carers come across as caring and being concerned for the wellbeing of residents, look after them and are fond of them all.” And, “People are lovely, not an institution it is a proper home, [relative] has friends there. They get [relative] and bring out the best in [relative]. I feel there is genuine love for [relative] there, it is not just a job, they genuinely love [relative], that is lovely for a parent to feel that.” Throughout our visits we observed staff to be kind, caring and supported people to be as independent as possible. Some people could not directly tell us about their experience. We used observations to assess whether they received good care. This showed staff consistently interacted positively with people. Relatives told us their loved ones were safe.