Riverlee Residential and Nursing Home

Updated 1 August 2023

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

An inspector, a medicines inspector, a bank inspector, a specialist advisor and an Expert by Experience visited the service on the 26 April 2023. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service. Another inspector also supported the inspection remotely.

Service and service type

Riverlee Residential and Nursing Home is a 'care home'. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us.

Riverlee Residential and Nursing Home is a care home with nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We used the

information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 5 people who used the service and 9 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 4 care staff, deputy manager, registered manager, regional manager, 4 registered nurses, the chef, maintenance person, activities coordinator and 1 visiting healthcare professional.

We reviewed a range of records. This included people's care records and medicines records. We looked at staff files in relation to recruitment and staff training. We also reviewed a variety of records relating to the management of the service including quality monitoring checks, audits and policies and procedures.

Updated 1 August 2023

About the service

Riverlee Residential and Nursing Home provides residential and nursing care for up to 75 older people over three floors and specialises in dementia care. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided and both were looked at during this inspection.

At the time of our inspection, 68 people were using the service.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

Risks to people’s health and safety were not always effectively assessed or guidance available to reduce possible risks and maintain people’s safety. Medicines were not always managed safely. The current systems in place were not robust enough to assess and monitor the quality and safety of the services being provided to people.

The service had safeguarding procedures in place. Appropriate recruitment checks had taken place before staff started work. There were enough staff available to meet people’s care and support needs. The service had procedures in place to reduce the risk of infections.

People’s care and support needs were assessed before they started using the service. Staff were supported and received training relevant to their roles. People were supported to maintain a healthy balanced diet and had access to health care professionals. We have made a recommendation about maintenance of the premises. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People and relatives told us staff were kind and caring. People's privacy, dignity and independence was promoted.

People and relatives spoke positively about the service. Care records were person centred and reflected their needs and preferences including end of life care. The service had a complaints procedure in place.

The service sought the views of people and their relatives. The service worked in partnership with health and social care providers to plan and deliver an effective service.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was good (Published 13 June 2018).

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Riverlee Residential and Nursing Home on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

Enforcement and Recommendations

We have identified breaches in relation to assessing risk, medicines management and good governance.

Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.

Follow up

We will request an action plan from the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.