River Cottage

Updated 18 February 2020

The inspection

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 Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

One inspector, carried out the inspection.

Service and service type

River Cottage is a residential care home. People in ‘care homes’ receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service had a registered manager. This means when registered they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was announced. We gave the home 24 hours’ notice due to the small size to make sure there was someone home.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. The registered manager and provider were working closely with the local authority commissioners on improving the quality of the service.

The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.

During the inspection

We spent time with people living at the service. We spoke with two people who used the service, one relative, the registered manager, team leader and three care staff.

We reviewed a range of records. These included two people’s care records and two medicines records. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including audits, procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to corroborate evidence found. We looked at training, audits, reports from external professionals and policies.

Updated 18 February 2020

About the service

River Cottage is a residential care home providing personal care to 3 young people with learning disabilities and autism at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 3 people.

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

We received extremely positive feedback from people, they told us they were very happy living at River Cottage and really enjoyed the learning opportunities, activities and the local community they engaged in. Relatives spoke very highly of the staff team improvements their support had made to their relative’s communication and wellbeing as a result.

The service had been fully developed and without doubt designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures people can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service received exceedingly well planned and co-ordinated person-centred support, appropriate and inclusive for them.

Peoples health, well-being and communication were drastically improved as a direct impact from the level of personalised support they received from the staff team who continually supported people to develop, try new things, learn new skills to help achieve personal goals.

Peoples communication was massively improved from the innovative use of accessible information. This was used creatively and appropriately and was readily available for people throughout the home. This was done inclusively and made use of various formats to suit individuals.

The registered manager and staff supported people to make valuable connections to help tackle social isolation and to support each other. People were able to access a superb range of activities in the home and outside which promoted, education, improved wellbeing and community citizenship. This included the highly regarded Princes Trust and Duke of Edinburgh awards.

The registered manager developed bespoke training by using external resources to their advantage and this was used across the providers other services as a benchmark. Their expertise regarding creating person centred culture, a modern, homely environment and positive behaviour support was shared by the provider.

There were excellent systems in place for communicating with people, their relatives and staff to ensure they were fully included by one to one key worker meetings, handovers, team meetings, phone calls and emails.

People were supported emotionally and confidentially to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and leadership in the service ensured this practice was the norm. People were supported to build and maintain important personal relationships that mattered to them; with peers, friends and relatives.

People were empowered to have their say and to exercise their rights. Access to an advocacy service was available and taken up when needed. Support was provided in a way which put the people and their preferences first. Healthcare professionals were regularly involved with people and the home.

The environment was very clean, modern and homely and maintained to a very high standard with personalised features throughout. Audits and monitoring systems were used effectively to manage the service and to make improvements when required.

There were enough staff to support people. Staff received support and a variety of appropriate and personalised training to meet people’s needs. Medicines were managed well, safely administered and recorded accurately. Individualised risk assessments were in place. Staff were confident they would raise concerns to safeguard people. Robust recruitment and selection procedures ensured suitable staff were employed.

The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.

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 Outstanding (28 May 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.