Riverside Care Centre

Updated 13 July 2022

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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

Two Inspectors carried out the inspection.

Service and service type

Riverside Care Centre is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Riverside Care Centre is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered manager

The service had a new manager who was seeking to register with the Care Quality Commission at the time of the inspection. This means that, once registered, the manager and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection, under the previous provider. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 10 people who used the service and three relatives about their experience of the care provided.

We spoke with eight members of staff including the manager, deputy manager, senior support workers and support workers.

We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI) and spent time observing support to people. SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.

We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care records and four medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records. We spoke with two professionals who regularly visit the service.

Updated 13 July 2022

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.

About the service

Riverside Care Centre is a residential care home providing personal care to 24 people at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 24 people with a learning disability and/or autism. The home was divided into three separate houses with eight people living in each home. There was also a separate office block on the grounds.

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

The service had been operating for several years but had recently changed provider. Whilst Riverside Care Centre was a larger residential care home, the provider was taking into consideration the principles and values of Right support, right care, right culture.’

Right Support

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 were assessed so any potential risks were identified, and steps taken to keep them safe. Systems in place safeguarded people from abuse and staff were knowledgeable about how to support people safely. People were protected from harm, for example through infection control measures and safe management of medicines.

Right Care

Observations and records showed that people experienced choice and control over their support and care planning was person centred. The service promoted people’s independence and people were engaged in activities that were meaningful to them.

People’s health needs were well managed and the service worked in partnership with other agencies to promote people’s health and wellbeing.

Right culture

Systems and processes in place promoted a positive culture at the home. Practices at the service were audited to monitor quality of the care people received and areas of improvement were identified.

People had established routines and good relationships with longstanding staff members. People were treated with dignity and respect and were involved in shaping their care. The management team worked closely with staff and had a clear vision for 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 the service under the previous provider was good, published on 25 October 2019.

Why we inspected

This was the first inspection for Riverside Care Centre since it began operation under a new provider. The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about the management of people’s health needs, personal finances and activities. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks. We also undertook this inspection to assess that the service is applying the principles of Right support right care right culture.

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.