CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Riverside View Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, November 2023
Rated Requires Improvement; inspectors found unsafe medicines management and weaknesses in oversight, although people generally felt safe and well cared for.
This was an unannounced focused inspection on 6 and 7 November 2023. Inspectors included a pharmacist and an Expert by Experience. They spoke with people, relatives, staff and health professionals, and reviewed medicine records, care plans, recruitment records and management information.
Inspectors found problems with medicines. Records and guidance did not always show that patches, topical medicines, ‘when required’ medicines and prescribed thickeners were given safely and as prescribed. Medicines audits had not found these problems.
People told inspectors they felt safe and were happy with their care. The home was clean, staffing levels met people's needs, risks were assessed, and staff understood safeguarding. However, there was no registered manager at the inspection, and the provider's governance arrangements were not consistently strong.
The overall rating changed from Good to Requires Improvement. Safe and Well-led were both rated Requires Improvement. The other areas were not inspected during this visit, so their previous ratings were used in the overall rating.
People felt safe
People and relatives spoke positively about the care and said they felt safe. Staff knew how to recognise and report safeguarding concerns.
“People and relatives felt the service was safe and spoke positively about the care provided.” from the report
Enough staff
Inspectors found enough staff to meet people's needs promptly. Staff were described as calm, kind and professional.
“There were enough staff to meet people's needs promptly. Staff supported people in a calm, kind and professional way.” from the report
Risk and fire safety
People's risks were identified in care plans, and fire safety checks and emergency evacuation plans were in place.
“Each person had a personal emergency evacuation plan (PEEP) which contained details about their individual needs in the event of an emergency.” from the report
Clean environment
The home was clean and personal protective equipment was available and used appropriately.
“The home was clean, and PPE was readily available, which staff used appropriately.” from the report
Positive relationships with professionals
Staff worked with health and social care professionals to support people's needs and health.
“Staff worked effectively with a range of other services and professionals to support people's needs.” from the report
Medicines were not consistently safe
seriousInspectors could not be sure that some people received patches and topical medicines as prescribed. Guidance and records for ‘when required’ medicines and thickeners were also incomplete.
“We could not be sure that people received their topical medicines or patches as prescribed.” from the report
Audits missed problems
seriousThe medicines audit system did not identify the problems found during the inspection. This led to a breach of the medicines regulation.
“A medicines audit system was in place, but this had not picked up the issues we found during this inspection.” from the report
Minor infection control gap
minorMost staff followed infection control practices, but a small minority were not bare below the elbow. The management team said this would be addressed.
“We saw a small minority of staff who were not 'bare below the elbow,' which is best practice for enabling thorough hand washing and preventing infection.” from the report
- 01What action has been taken to make sure patches and topical medicines are given and recorded as prescribed?
- 02How are ‘when required’ medicines now documented, including the reason for giving them and whether they worked?
- 03How are prescribed thickeners recorded so staff have clear instructions and complete records accurately?
- 04Who is currently managing the home, and has the new manager applied to become the registered manager?
- 05How will the provider check that its medicines audits identify problems promptly?
This was an unannounced focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only; the other key question ratings were carried forward from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 29 November 2023 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, March 2023
Riverside View Care Home is rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, but medicines records and staff morale needed attention.
This was an unannounced focused inspection. Inspectors visited on 6 February 2023, and the inspection activity ran from 6 to 13 February. They spoke with people living at the home, relatives and staff, and checked care records, medicines records, recruitment files and management records.
The home was rated Good overall. Safe, Effective, Responsive and Well-led were all rated Good. Inspectors found that risks were assessed, medicines were generally managed safely, there were enough staff to keep people safe, and infection control was effective.
People's care plans reflected their needs, choices and preferences. Staff supported people's communication, relationships, activities, food choices and healthcare. The home had a warm atmosphere, although recent management changes and staffing pressures had affected staff morale.
This inspection followed a previous Requires Improvement rating and two breaches of regulations. Inspectors found enough improvement for the home to be no longer in breach. Caring was not inspected during this visit, so its previous rating was carried forward when calculating the overall rating.
Risk and medicines safety
Risks were assessed using recognised tools, with detailed guidance for staff. Inspectors found that people received their medicines as prescribed.
“Medicines were managed safely, and people received their medicines as prescribed.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans reflected people's needs, preferences and cultural or religious requirements. Staff knew people's likes and dislikes and supported them at their own pace.
“People's care and support plans were person-centred.” from the report
Food and nutrition
Individual dietary needs were met, and people were offered choices, snacks and drinks. Inspectors found mealtimes were pleasant.
“People received a diet which reflected their needs and preferences.” from the report
Activities and relationships
People could maintain relationships and take part in activities that interested them. The home had two activities co-ordinators and used technology and a befriender service.
“Staff supported people to take part in activities they enjoyed.” from the report
Improved oversight
The provider had made enough improvement since the last inspection to remove the previous breaches. Regular audits identified actions for further improvement.
“Improvements had been made since our last inspection.” from the report
Variable-dose medicine records
needs fixingInspectors found that records for variable-dose medicines still needed improvement. The provider took action immediately after receiving this feedback.
“Further improvements were needed around variable dose medicines.” from the report
Staff morale and workload
needs fixingSome staff felt unsettled after management changes. Others said the home was very busy and that more staff would help them spend more quality time with people.
“Some staff told us morale was impacted by staff being too busy and picking up extra shifts.” from the report
No registered manager in post
minorThere was no registered manager at the time of the inspection. A new manager had been recruited and was applying to register.
“At the time of our inspection there was not a registered manager in post.” from the report
- 01How are variable-dose medicines recorded now, and what checks make sure these records remain accurate?
- 02Has the new manager's registration application been completed, and who is responsible for the home until then?
- 03Have staffing levels improved since the inspection, and can staff now spend enough quality time with residents?
- 04What support has been provided to staff after the recent management changes, and how is morale monitored?
- 05How are residents' cultural, religious and dietary needs recorded and reviewed in their care plans?
This was a focused inspection covering Safe, Effective, Responsive and Well-led; Caring was not inspected and its previous rating was carried forward when calculating the overall rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 14 March 2023 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.
Every inspection of Riverside View Care Home
3 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Requires improvement rating throughout.
- November 2023Requires improvementcurrent ratingdown from GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- March 2023Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2021Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- August 2020
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 6 August 2020.
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.
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