CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Ryecroft Apartments
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Risk assessments were detailed, staffing was sufficient, medicines were managed safely and infection control arrangements were effective.
- Effective?
- Good
- Care was based on assessments of people's physical and mental health needs. Staff were trained, people were supported to eat healthily and access healthcare, and people were involved in decisions about their care.
- Caring?
- Good
- People said staff were kind, caring and respectful. Staff supported privacy, dignity, choice, relationships, new experiences and greater independence.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans were personalised and regularly reviewed. Staff understood people's communication needs, supported cultural and personal identities, and dealt with complaints about external areas appropriately and promptly.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home had an experienced manager and effective systems for checking quality and safety. People, relatives and staff were asked for feedback, and staff said they felt supported and respected.
What inspectors found, December 2022
Rycroft Apartments was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and person-centred care with strong support for independence.
This was the first inspection since the home was newly registered in 2021. One inspector visited on 5 December 2022 and spoke with people, relatives and staff. The inspector reviewed care plans, medicine records, recruitment files and management records.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. People told inspectors they felt safe, respected and listened to. Staff were described as kind and caring, and people were supported to make choices, take positive risks and develop independence.
Inspectors found detailed care plans, safe medicine systems, suitable staffing and good links with health professionals. The home used audits, meetings and feedback to monitor and improve care. No breaches of regulations were identified.
Support for independence
People were supported to manage areas of their own lives, including medicines, shopping, meals, healthcare and employment, where this was suitable for them.
“People were supported to maintain their independence and to learn new skills.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
People consistently described staff as kind and caring. Inspectors also saw positive interactions and found that staff knew people well.
“People told us staff were kind and caring.” from the report
Safe care and medicines
The home had clear risk assessments, enough staff and safe systems for administering and recording medicines. People could be supported to take their own medicines when appropriate.
“People were supported by staff who followed systems and processes to prescribe, administer, record and store medicines safely.” from the report
Personalised care
Care plans reflected people's needs, preferences, goals and communication styles. People were involved in creating and reviewing their plans.
“People had care and support plans that were personalised, holistic, strength-based and reflected their needs and aspirations.” from the report
Open management
The manager and provider used audits, meetings and feedback to monitor the service. Staff spoke positively about the support and leadership they received.
“Systems and processes were in place and effective in assessing, monitoring and improving the service.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How will you support my relative to take more responsibility for their medicines, and how often will their risk assessment be reviewed?
- 02How will you involve my relative and their family in creating and updating the care plan?
- 03What support is available for healthcare appointments, healthy eating and developing daily living skills?
- 04How will you communicate information if my relative needs easy-read, large-print or translated material?
- 05How should we raise a concern, and how will you keep us informed about the action taken?
This was a comprehensive inspection covering all five key questions, the premises and care provided; end-of-life care was not tested in practice because nobody at the home needed it at the time. This explanation was written from the published report of 31 December 2022 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 Ryecroft Apartments
3 rated inspections over 7 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- December 2022Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2021
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 16 September 2021.
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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What to check when you visit
At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of West Northamptonshire
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 £1,280 a week. 87 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“We can all fully relax around Nyarai and she feels like part of our family, which is no mean feat!”
“If you bump into her in the night on her way to the bathroom she will still inquire how you are and if everything is alright.”
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.