Archived: Ridgeway Centre

We inspected the unit, spoke with people who lived there, spoke with staff, and checked staffing and patient records. We also checked internal documents quality assurance checklists. After the inspection, we requested further information from trust senior managers. This meant that we had sufficient information to help us come to a judgement.

We saw staff were respectful, and asked people if they needed support and assisting when asked. We saw that consent was agreed and capacity had been assessed where necessary. One person said they 'really liked it' on the unit and staff were described as being 'really nice'.

Individualised care plans detailed the support and care each person needed. The people we spoke with confirmed they received the support they needed. They told us the staff were 'nice' and 'always helpful'.

Medicines were not managed safely although staff told us they were aware of their responsibilities.

Although core numbers were lower than expected there was sufficient staffing on each shift and evidence provided by the trust demonstrated the unit was adequately staffed through the use of permanent, bank and agency staff. The inspectors noted that there was a shortage of more senior staff for example Charge Nurses and were made aware of the plans for recruitment of all disciplines of staff.

Consent was always requested before any treatment or care took place.

We observed positive social and therapeutic interactions between the staff and people who used the service. There were structured activities going on, and we saw people sharing a joke and having fun. We also saw and heard sensitive care of a person who was distressed. Time was given to allow this person to express their distress and be helped to manage it.

People who used the service told us they felt safe there. They said if they were worried about anything, they would tell the staff and "It will be sorted." One person told us they had been made unhappy by the words and actions of another person there. They said the staff "had made everything okay."

On the day of our inspection, we noted that there were sufficient numbers of staff to deliver care, and to enable activities to take place. The unit was busy but purposeful, and the staff worked hard to provide a warm and therapeutic environment. Recruitment was underway to increase the staffing.

There was a wide variety of quality assurance measures put in place by the senior manager. This allowed assurance that the unit was working in a safe and effective manner. It also allowed the manager to see where improvements could be made.

The records that we viewed were appropriate, although occasionally lacked sufficient detail. They were all stored in a secure manner.