Archived: The Rivendell

Updated 24 October 2018

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, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This inspection took place on 27 September 2018 by an inspector and an assistant inspector. The inspection was announced. The provider was given 48 hours’ notice because people needed support to manage changes to their routine. We needed to be sure that we reduced any anxiety that people had about our inspection.

We used information the provider sent to us in the Provider Information Return (PIR). This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give us some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We reviewed the information in the PIR along with other information we held about the service. We looked at previous reports and notifications received by the Care Quality Commission. Notifications are information we receive when a significant event happens, like a death or a serious injury.

During the inspection we met and spoke with all the people living at the service, two members of staff, the registered manager and a care manager from the provider’s head office. We looked around all areas of the service. We observed how staff engaged with people and each other. We looked at how people were supported with their daily routines and assessed if people’s needs were being met. We reviewed four care and support plans, medicines records, a staff file, staff training and records about how the quality of service was managed.

Updated 24 October 2018

The Rivendell provides accommodation and personal care for up to four people with a learning disability. The service is a small converted domestic property in a residential area of Herne Bay and the rooms are arranged over two floors. There were four people living at the service at the time of the inspection.

The Rivendell is a 'care home'. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

At our last inspection we rated the service Good.

At this inspection we found the service remained Good. We found the evidence continued to support the rating of Good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

People continued to be supported to stay safe and were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. They were supported by enough trained and knowledgeable staff who had been recruited safely. People were involved in planning their care and discussing and minimising risks. People’s medicines were managed safely. When incidents or accidents occurred people and staff worked together to minimise the risk of them happening again.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control over their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the polices and systems in place supported this practice.

People continued to be involved in the planning and reviewing of their care and support and their preferences and choices were recorded. People were supported to eat well and to remain healthy. Referrals were made to health care professionals when needed and any advice given was followed.

People had built strong, positive and trusting relationships with the staff team. Staff were kind, caring and patient and listened to and valued people’s views. Privacy and dignity was respected. People and staff laughed and chatted together and the atmosphere was relaxed.

People’s care and support plans were written with them and reflected their individual preferences and choices. People were encouraged to follow their own interests and to take part in group activities to increase their well-being. People’s religious, spiritual and cultural needs were discussed and recorded. Complaints were handled in line with the provider’s policy and people knew how to complain.

The registered manager and staff had a shared set of visons and values. There was an open, inclusive, empowering and positive culture where people lived as a family. The registered manager coached and mentored staff and worked with them each day. Regular checks and audits were carried out by the registered manager and staff from head office to ensure the service being provided was safe and effective.