CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Rivercourt Project Short Breaks
Rated Outstanding: inspectors found the home performing exceptionally well.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Inspectors found clear risk plans, enough suitably recruited staff, safe medicines systems and suitable infection control arrangements.
- Effective?
- Good
- People's needs, choices and goals were assessed and used to plan their care. Staff had suitable training and supervision, and people were supported with food, drink, health appointments and independence.
- Caring?
- Outstanding
- The home showed exceptional kindness and understood how each person communicated. People were supported to make choices, maintain dignity and develop their independence.
- Responsive?
- Outstanding
- Care was highly personalised and flexible. The home adapted support for emergencies, changing needs, communication needs, community activities, relationships and work or training opportunities.
- Well-led?
- Outstanding
- Leadership was described as exceptional, with a strong person-centred culture. The home worked closely with families, local services and community organisations and continually developed its support.
What inspectors found, December 2021
Rivercourt Project Short Breaks was rated Outstanding; inspectors found exceptionally caring, responsive and well-led support, with safe and effective care rated Good.
This was a comprehensive inspection of the home, which provides short stays and emergency accommodation for people with a learning disability and autistic people. Inspectors visited on four dates, observed care and activities, checked the building, medicines and records, and spoke with family members and staff.
Inspectors found that people were safe, with suitable risk assessments, staffing, recruitment, medicines and infection control arrangements. Care was planned around people's needs, communication, choices, health and independence. The home supported people to eat and drink well, take part in activities and access healthcare.
The strongest findings were about kindness, personalised support and leadership. Families trusted the home and said it helped them during emergencies and the COVID-19 pandemic. The home was rated Outstanding overall, with Caring, Responsive and Well-led rated Outstanding, and Safe and Effective rated Good.
Families felt safe
Family members said they trusted the home and felt their relatives were safe there.
“People's family members felt safe and trusted the service.” from the report
Exceptional family support
The home supported families during emergencies and kept in touch during the COVID-19 pandemic, including when usual respite arrangements were unavailable.
“They were always calling us, coming to our home made such a huge difference during a difficult time.” from the report
Community activities
People were supported to take part in varied activities, trips, local community life, work experience and employment opportunities.
“The service enabled people to access a wide range of social activities and support within the local community to keep them happy, occupied and stimulated.” from the report
Learning and leadership
The home kept reviewing its work, developed new roles and used funding and partnerships to improve support and activities.
“The service was constantly learning and innovating. The registered manager had worked with people and their families to design a service which could best meet their needs.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you assess and update my relative's needs before their first stay, especially if they have not used respite care recently?
- 02How would staff communicate with my relative, and what communication tools or information would be available to all staff?
- 03How are medicines checked when a person arrives and leaves the home, and how are doses recorded?
- 04What activities, community trips, work experience or training opportunities could be matched to my relative's interests and goals?
This inspection looked at all five key questions, including the premises, care, medicines, staffing, records, activities and leadership, and included visits, observations, calls and document checks. This explanation was written from the published report of 30 December 2021 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
What inspectors found, May 2019
Rated Outstanding; inspectors found safe, effective care with exceptional kindness, personalised support and leadership.
This was an unannounced inspection on the first day, followed by further visits and telephone calls. Inspectors spoke with four people using the home, relatives, staff, managers and health and social care professionals. They reviewed care plans, medicine records, complaints, recruitment, training and quality checks.
The home provided short breaks for people with learning disabilities and autistic spectrum disorder. Inspectors found people were protected from harm, medicines were managed safely, staffing was sufficient and recruitment checks were thorough. Staff received training and support, and the home met people's health, nutrition and communication needs.
Care was rated Outstanding for being caring, responsive and well-led. Safe and Effective were rated Good. The overall rating remained Outstanding, and Responsive improved from Good to Outstanding since the previous inspection.
Kind and compassionate care
Staff were described as gentle, thoughtful and compassionate. Inspectors saw positive and cheerful interactions between staff and people using the home.
“The staff team continued to provide an outstanding level of gentle, thoughtful and compassionate care.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans included people's likes, dislikes, interests, communication needs, health needs and cultural or religious preferences. People and relatives were involved in reviews.
“The person-centred care plans contained photographs and pictorial charts, so that people could be supported to participate in their care planning.” from the report
Meaningful activities
People could take part in activities such as cooking, gardening, arts and crafts, shopping, sport, trips and community events. These supported new skills, confidence and friendships.
“There was an outstanding approach to supporting people to lead fulfilling lives through learning new skills, developing their confidence and engaging in meaningful activities at the service and in the wider community.” from the report
Safe arrangements
Risk assessments gave staff clear guidance about people's individual risks. Medicines, staffing, recruitment, infection control and safeguarding were all managed safely.
“There were robust systems in place to ensure people who used the service were protected from the risk of abuse and harm.” from the report
Strong leadership
The report found a positive culture, strong leadership and ongoing efforts to improve. Staff said they felt supported by the management team.
“The provider continued to demonstrate there was a very positive culture at the service, which was outstandingly well-led.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you assess and update my relative's risk plan if their health, mobility, eating or behaviour changed?
- 02How would you support my relative to communicate worries or choices if they do not use speech?
- 03How flexible can stays be, including overnight stays, afternoons, weekends or changes at short notice?
- 04Which activities would match my relative's interests and abilities, and how would they be involved in choosing them?
- 05How would you support my relative to manage their own medicines if this became appropriate?
This was a comprehensive inspection covering all five key questions, the premises and the care provided; the previous inspection was in May 2016 and Responsive improved from Good to Outstanding. This explanation was written from the published report of 2 May 2019 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk. The report was longer than we could read in one go; the later sections may not be reflected.
Every inspection of Rivercourt Project Short Breaks
3 rated inspections over 6 years: the service has held its Outstanding rating throughout.
- December 2021Outstandingcurrent ratingstayed OutstandingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: OutstandingResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Outstanding
Read what inspectors found at Rivercourt Project Short Breaks →
- May 2019Outstandingstayed OutstandingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: OutstandingResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Outstanding
Read what inspectors found at Rivercourt Project Short Breaks →
- May 2016OutstandingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: OutstandingResponsive: GoodWell-led: Outstanding
- October 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 13 January 2011.
Ratings and report dates from the Care Quality Commission, Open Government Licence v3.0. A home can also be visited without a new rating being published, so the timeline shows published inspections.
Weigh the report against the rest
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What to check when you visit
At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Hammersmith and Fulham
These are self-employed carers on PrimeCarers, the introductory agency that runs this directory. Each has a profile with their own rates and reviews from families, and you choose who to talk to.
Most charge £980 to £1,300 a week. 79 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“The quality of life that she's given my parents has been priceless. The peace of mind she's given my sisters and I, through a very difficult time, has been invaluable.”
“She has an unusual combination of kindness and firmness, is quite unflappable, physically strong, extremely savvy”
Every carer has had an enhanced DBS check in the last 18 months, ID and right-to-work checks and an online interview. Their skills and training are for you to check with them. Carers set their own rates, and who is free changes week to week.