Archived: Riddlesden Rest & Convalescent Home

Riddlesden Rest and Convalescent Home is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care to up to 10 people aged 65 and over. The home is situated on the outskirts of Keighley providing care in a single storey building. There is car parking to the front of the building and wheelchair access into the home. The home does not have any gardens but there is a patio area for people to use. At the time of the inspection there were nine people using the service.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

Some risks were managed well, but others had not been identified to ensure the necessary control measures were in place. Moving and handling risk assessments and care plans did not provide the necessary guidance for staff to follow. At times staffing levels were low. Some people required two staff members to support them and this was not always available.

Some of the systems and processes to monitor the quality of the service, which had been put in place by an external care consultant providing support to the home, had not been continued by the registered manager. The registered manager had been busy providing care at the home, which limited their time to complete managerial tasks such as audits.

Some people were quite happy watching television and some people liked to knit. However, there were times during the day when there was very little to occupy people. We have made a recommendation the provider considers current guidance on meaningful occupation and wellbeing.

Medicine management procedures were in place. Evidence to confirm all staff medication training was up to date and their competency levels checked, was not available. Evidence based guidance recommends an annual review of staff knowledge, skills and competency and this had not happened. Some staff training was also out of date in other topics essential to care provision.

People who had restrictions on their liberty had been referred to the relevant authorities. 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. Mental capacity assessments were not decision specific and best interest decisions processes didn't follow best practice. We have made a recommendation the provider considers current guidance on MCA and best interest decision making.

People liked living at the home and the relatives we spoke with who visited during the inspection, told us they were confident they were safe. Information we received following our first two days of inspection alleged some staff did not always treat people with dignity or respect.

Staff were recruited safely, and people received care from staff who knew them well. People and their relatives were happy with the staff at the home and reported there was a homely feel to the home.

People liked the food and were offered a choice of food options. People’s weight was regularly taken and action was taken when there was concern about weight loss.

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 21 April 2017). Since this rating was awarded the legal entity of the provider has changed. We have used the previous rating to inform our planning and decisions about the rating at this inspection. This service has been rated requires improvement for the last two consecutive inspections.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating. After the first two days of inspection, and before the inspection concluded we received information of concern. These concerns were in relation to serious allegations of abuse which are being investigated by the police. As a result of these concern we undertook a further two days of inspection. The investigation into the allegations has not been concluded.

Enforcement

At the inspection we identified breaches in relation to the management of risk, staffing levels, staff training and governance arrangements. Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.

Follow up

We will meet with the provider following this report being published to discuss how they will make changes to ensure they improve their rating to at least good. We will work with the local authority to monitor progress. We will return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.