St Marys Riverside

Updated 1 September 2023

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

This inspection was carried out by 2 inspectors and an Expert by Experience on the first day. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service. The second day was completed by 1 inspector.

Service and service type

St Mary's Riverside 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. St Mary's Riverside 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

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced on the first day. We told the registered manager we would be returning for a second day.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service. We sought feedback from the local authority who commissioned care 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. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 17 people who used the service, and 8 visiting relatives. We spoke with 10 members of staff including the registered manager and care staff, and a regional manager for the organisation. We also spoke with 2 visiting health and social care professionals. We reviewed a range of records. This included care records and medication records. We looked at 4 staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service were reviewed.

Updated 1 September 2023

About the service

St Mary's Riverside is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal and nursing care for up to 61 people. At the time of the inspection 44 people were living at the service. St Mary's Riverside is a purpose built three floor residential home. All bedrooms have en-suite facilities, and there are communal living and dining areas.

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

People who lived at St Marys Riverside received exceptionally high-quality, personalised care and support from a remarkably well-led service.

The atmosphere was exceptionally welcoming, friendly, and positive. Feedback from people who used the service, their relatives, and staff was consistently and overwhelmingly positive the home exceeded people's expectations. One person told us, “I don’t ever want to leave here. I am home now.”

People and their relatives praised the staff for their exceptional care and kindness. Staff were engaging and considerate, and treated people with the utmost respect.

Staff were extremely committed to providing care that was compassionate and provided the best outcomes for people. The managers and staff team had a strong approach to providing individualised care, that promoted people's dignity.

There was a positive culture and staff were very proud to work for the provider. Staff were empowered to achieve the best outcomes for people through embracing a supportive teamwork approach to their work.

The management team provided strong leadership and proactively considered how they could continuously enhance the service. There was clear leadership and visions and values for the service, that ensured people were at the heart of everything they did.

People were provided with a variety of inclusive, social, and therapeutic activities that were tailored to their skills and preferences. The staff team were enthusiastic and continuously looked for new activities or events for people to be part of to minimise social isolation.

Staffing levels were sufficient to meet people's needs safely, and ensured people received consistent support. Staff were recruited safely, and the management team ensured staff were suitably skilled and trained to carry out their role and meet people's complex and diverse needs. Risks to people had been fully assessed and mitigated to help keep people safe.

Medicines were administered safely to people and staff were observed following safe infection prevention control practices. Where incidents occurred, the provider had a system in place to review and learn from these to prevent reoccurrence.

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.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 7 February 2022 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.