CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at The Riders
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from abuse and staff knew how to manage risks. Inspectors found problems with some risk records, incident records and medicine disposal records, but staff generally understood people's needs and how to keep them safe.
- Effective?
- Good
- People had their needs assessed and were supported to access health care. Inspectors found that meals did not always provide enough choice, variety or nutritional quality, and that some records about legal representatives and best-interest decisions were not clear enough.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff treated people with dignity and respect. Inspectors saw patient, kind support, including help with meals, emotional reassurance and encouragement to maintain independence.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Staff understood people's preferences, communication needs and interests. People were supported with activities, family contact and personal goals, although some relatives had not seen care plans and wanted more reassurance about activities.
- Well-led?
- Requires improvement
- The home had management and quality monitoring systems, but they had not identified all the problems inspectors found. The home had also failed to notify CQC about some incidents it was required to report.
What inspectors found, August 2022
Rated Good overall, but inspectors found the home needed to improve its management systems and record keeping.
This was the first inspection since the home registered with CQC. It was unannounced and took place over three visits on 29 June, 5 July and 7 July 2022. Inspectors spoke with people living there, relatives, staff and health professionals. They also checked care records, medicine records, staff files and management records.
The home was rated Good for Safe, Effective, Caring and Responsive. Inspectors found people were protected from abuse, supported by enough trained staff, treated with kindness and helped to access health care and activities. They also found staff understood people's needs and supported their independence.
The home was rated Requires Improvement for Well-led. Some records were not accurate or complete, some incidents had not been properly overseen or reported to CQC, and quality checks had not found all the problems. Inspectors made recommendations about records, medicine disposal, food and choice, dementia-friendly design, and recording representatives' involvement in decisions.
Kind and respectful staff
Inspectors saw staff speaking patiently with people, offering reassurance and supporting them with dignity. Relatives also described staff as caring and pleasant.
“People were supported by staff who showed them respect and engaged with them in a caring manner.” from the report
Staff understood people's needs
Staff could explain people's physical and mental health needs, risks, preferences and early signs of distress. Positive behaviour support plans helped staff respond safely.
“Staff spoke confidently about people's needs and how they worked to minimise risk.” from the report
Enough trained staff
Inspectors saw enough staff in communal areas and at mealtimes. Staff had training in areas including dementia, diabetes, epilepsy, swallowing difficulties and positive behaviour support.
“We observed sufficient staff in the communal areas and at meal times to ensure people were supported.” from the report
Support with personal goals
The home worked with families and other professionals to help people achieve important goals, including returning to their family home or moving towards community living.
“People were supported to achieve their potential.” from the report
Good communication support
People's communication needs were recorded. Staff used communication aids and, where possible, arranged shifts so someone could speak a person's first language.
“People's communication needs were clearly identified.” from the report
Medicine disposal records
needs fixingRecords of medicines kept for disposal were not always signed by two staff and did not always match medicine administration records.
“The service had failed to keep accurate records of medicines retained for disposal.” from the report
Management oversight and reporting
seriousQuality checks had not identified all the problems found during the inspection. Some incidents had not reached the registered manager, and the home had not notified CQC about certain incidents it was required to report.
“We found however these systems had not been fully effective in identifying the concerns we found and the service had not notified CQC of certain incidents it was required to.” from the report
Meal choice and nutrition
needs fixingInspectors found limited choice, variety and nutritional quality at the meal observed. Some people and relatives were unsure what choices were available.
“People were not always provided with meals that offered sufficient choice, variety and nutritional quality.” from the report
Dementia-friendly environment
minorThe layout, signs and decoration needed more work to help people living with dementia understand their surroundings and remain independent.
“People with dementia were not supported by a fully dementia friendly environment to enable better understanding of their surroundings.” from the report
- 01What changes have you made to ensure falls assessments, fluid instructions and other risk records are accurate and kept up to date?
- 02How do you now check that medicines for disposal are recorded correctly and signed by two staff?
- 03What actions have been taken to improve the range and choice of meals, including people's nutritional, cultural and dietary needs?
- 04Have you completed evacuation drills involving people living in the home, and what did staff learn from them?
- 05How can our family see and contribute to the care plan, and how do you record our involvement and any power of attorney arrangements?
This was the first comprehensive inspection since registration and assessed all five CQC questions, including both the premises and the care provided. This explanation was written from the published report of 13 August 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. The report was longer than we could read in one go; the later sections may not be reflected.
Every inspection of The Riders
Each visit the CQC has published, newest first, back to the day the home was registered.
- August 2022Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- June 2021
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 4 June 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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83 live-in carers within about an hour of Windsor and Maidenhead
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 £1,020 to £1,260 a week. 76 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“I can truly say that Peter always put Dad at the centre of everything and I know that they found a great friendship in difficult times.”
“Not only has she looked after him beautifully, she has also been great company for him with lively conversation, kindness and humour.”
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.