Archived: River Lodge

Updated 14 December 2015

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. The inspection was planned to check whether the provider was 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.

We visited River Lodge on 5 November 2015. The inspection team consisted of one inspector, the inspection was unannounced. At the last inspection on 30 December 2013 the service met the requirements we looked at.

None of the people who used the service were able to communicate verbally with us. We spent time observing how staff provided cared for people to help us better understand their experiences of the care and support they received. We spoke with five relatives, one who visited at the time of our inspection, the manager of the home and four members of the care staff team. We also contacted two local community health professionals who had regular contact with the service.

On this occasion, we had not asked the provider to send us a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. However, we offered the provider the opportunity to share information they felt was relevant.

We looked at a range of documents and written records including two people’s care records, two staff recruitment files, risk assessments and medication charts. We also looked at equipment and some building maintenance records. We also looked at information regarding the arrangements for managing complaints and monitoring the quality of the service provided within the home.

We reviewed other information that we held such as notifications which are events which happened in the service that the provider is required to tell us about.

Updated 14 December 2015

River Lodge is registered to provide residential care for up to eight people. It supports people who have a learning disability and have limited verbal communication. We inspected the home on 5 November 2015. The inspection was unannounced. There were seven people living in the home at the time of our inspection.

The service had a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

The Care Quality Commission is required by law to monitor the operation of the Mental Capacity Act, 2005 (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and to report on what we find. DoLS are in place to protect people where they do not have capacity to make decisions and where it is considered necessary to restrict their freedom in some way, usually to protect them. At the time of the inspection the manager had submitted DoLs applications for everyone living at the home as required.

People felt safe and were cared for by staff in way that met their needs and maintained their dignity and respect. Staff understood how to identify, report and manage any concerns related to people’s safety and welfare.

The provider had developed relationships with local healthcare services which meant people received the specialist support required. Medicines were safely stored and managed.

Food and drink were provided to a good standard and people had variety and choice.

People and their relatives were involved in planning the care and support provided by the service. Staff listened to people and understood and respected their needs. Staff reflected people’s wishes and preferences in the way they delivered care. They understood the issues involved in supporting people who had lost capacity to make some decisions.

People were encouraged and supported to engage in activities and events that gave them an opportunity to socialise. Staff ensured people obtained advice and support from other health professionals to maintain and improve their health or when their needs changed.

Relatives told us they could voice their views and opinions to the manager and staff. The manager listened to what people had to say and took action to resolve any issues. The manager reviewed untoward incidents and concerns to look for opportunities to improve policies and practices for the future. There were systems in place for handling and resolving complaints.

Recruitment practices ensured that the staff employed were suitable to work with people. Staff received training and support to deliver a good quality of care to people and a training programme was in place to address identified training needs.

There was a friendly, homely atmosphere and staff supported people in a kind and caring way that took account of their individual needs and preferences. The staff and management team shared common values about the purpose of the service. People were supported and encouraged to live as independently as possible, according to their needs and abilities.

The manager demonstrated an open management style and provided leadership to the staff team.