Riverlea House

Updated 4 February 2022

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of CQC’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic we are looking at how services manage infection control and visiting arrangements. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection prevention and control measures the provider had in place. We also asked the provider about any staffing pressures the service was experiencing and whether this was having an impact on the service.

This inspection took place on 17 January 2022 and was unannounced.

Updated 4 February 2022

About the service

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.