We carried out a review of the data available to us about Riverlea House on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Riverlea House, you can give feedback on this service.
We found the following examples of good practice;
Visitors were provided clear guidance on procedures they needed to follow during visits to Riverlea House. On arrival staff gave clear instructions on personal protective equipment (PPE) they needed to wear during their visit, including face masks.
Staff had been trained in infection prevention and control. We observed staff wearing their PPE in line with government guidance, and there were donning and doffing stations situated throughout the service.
The service was clean, and cleaning had been increased during the pandemic to sure high touch point areas were cleaned more frequently.
Staff and people undertook regular testing. For staff this included lateral flow tests three times a week before their shift. Any staff who tested positive did not attend their shift to ensure they did not come into contact with people or other staff.
Riverlea House is a residential care home providing personal care to 40 older people and people living with dementia at the time of the inspection. Riverlea House accommodates 44 people in one adapted building.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People felt safe and at home at Riverlea House. People were treated with dignity and respect and their lifestyle and equality needs and choices were understood and respected. The registered manager told us, “They are treated as an equal”. People had privacy.
People were protected from the risks of harm and abuse and any concerns they or staff had, were listened to and acted on. Risks to been assessed with people. Ways to support people to remain independent and safe had been agreed.
Staff supported people to remain healthy and were offered a balanced diet which met their needs. People’s medicines were managed safely. People were protected from the risk of infection.
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.
People had planned their care with staff and were supported to maintain their routines. They were supported to take part in a range of activities they enjoyed. People had been offered the opportunity to share their end of life preferences and these had been followed.
The provider and registered manager had oversight of the service. They completed regular checks on the quality of care people received. People and staff were asked for their views of the service. These were listened to and acted on to improve the service.
The registered manager understood their legal responsibilities and had shared information with us and others when they needed to.
There were enough staff to support people when they needed. Staff had the skills they required to care for people and were supported by the management team. Staff were recruited safely.
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 20 January 2017).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
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.
Riverlea house is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to a maximum of forty-four people, some of whom may be diagnosed with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were forty-two people living in the service.
The service is required to and did have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
Staff delivered support effectively and care was provided in a way that promoted people’s independence and wellbeing, whilst people’s safety was ensured. Staff were recruited and employed upon completion of appropriate checks as part of a robust recruitment process. Sufficient numbers of staff enabled people’s individual needs to be met adequately. Trained staff dispensed medications and monitored people’s health satisfactorily.
Staff understood their responsibilities and how to keep people safe. People’s rights were also protected because management and staff understood the legal framework of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS).
The registered manager and staff ensured access to healthcare services were readily available to people and worked with a range of health professionals, such as social workers, community mental health nurses and GPs to implement care and support plans.
Staff were respectful and compassionate towards people ensuring privacy and dignity was valued. People were supported in a person centred way by staff who understood their roles in relation to encouraging independence whilst mitigating potential risks. People were supported to identify their own interests and pursue them with the assistance of staff. Person centred social activities took place within the service as well as in the community.
Systems were in place to make sure that people’s views were gathered. These included regular meetings, direct interactions with people and questionnaires being distributed to people, relatives and healthcare professionals. The service was assisted to run effectively by the use of quality monitoring audits carried out by the registered manager, which identified any improvements needed and actions were taken. A complaints procedure was in place and had been implemented appropriately by the management team.
All of the people with whom we spoke gave us positive feedback about the service. One of them said "I really like it here" another stated they "would like to stay here till I die "We spoke to a carer who said "I am very happy with the service my relative has received".
People who use the service told us how they were treated by staff and involved in making choices about their care. We saw staff speaking politely and clearly to people, explaining what they were doing and offering people choices.
We saw that the physical health and diet of the people who lived there were a high priority to staff. Medication was managed safely and risks were considered when planning care. The equipment provided to support care was suitable and properly maintained.
We saw that the people who lived there were being cared for by staff who had the appropriate checks when employed and had been provided with adequate training and support to carry out the job. We found that the care records were fit for purpose.
We saw that the accommodation was clean and tidy and the people who use the service were happy and relaxed.
The inspection team was led by a CQC inspector joined by an Expert by Experience (people who have experience of using services and who can provide that perspective).
We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a specific way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.
All of the 10 people with whom we spoke gave us generally positive feedback about the service. One of them said, "The staff are all tip top here and very attentive and polite. They make the place. I've no concerns about being here." A carer (relative) said, "I've been very impressed with the staff because they are genuinely caring and always look very professional and neat."