Rivenhall

Updated 24 February 2022

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.

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

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

Rivenhall is a ‘care home’. 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.

The service had a home manager. They were relatively new to the service and were not yet registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means the provider is legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

We gave a short period notice of the inspection. This was because the service is small and people are often out and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since registration with the CQC. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with three people who used the service and three people’s relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with eight members of staff including the home manager.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at one staff file in relation to recruitment and supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data, safe recruitment records and some quality assurance records. We spoke with three people’s relatives about their experience of the care provided and one health and social work professional who had worked closely with the service.

Updated 24 February 2022

About the service

Rivenhall is a care home providing accommodation and personal care to adults who are autistic and / or have a learning disability. The home is set out over three self-contained domestic properties within a residential area of Warrington. The service can support up to six people and at the time of our inspection four people were living at Rivenhall.

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

People living at Rivenhall were treated well and each person’s uniqueness and diversity was respected. Staff had an empowering approach towards people, promoting their status as equal citizens. People showed us by their actions they liked the staff members caring for them, were very comfortable in their company and enjoyed interacting with them. Staff members were knowledgeable about what was important to each person and used this information to provide care and support that was meaningful to them.

People were listened to and were supported to make as many decisions as possible for themselves. Staff used a variety of communication tools and techniques to ensure they constantly sought people’s views throughout the day and supported them to make decisions.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. The service was mostly working within the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA).

The service was safe. The environment of the home was safe, the administration of people’s medication was safe, and people were safeguarded from the risk of abuse. People’s relatives told us they felt their family members were safe living at Rivenhall and they had confidence in the organisation. People’s relatives told us they knew their family members were happy at the home because of how settled and comfortable they were; along with how happy they were when returning to the home. One person’s relative told us, “[Name] looks happy there.” Another said, “He is really comfortable there.”

The Home manager was innovative and had made improvements in the systems to help ensure staff had the information they needed to be effective in their roles. People’s family members told us there had been recent improvements in communication and working collaboratively. They told us they now felt included and involved in the support of their family member. One person’s family member told us these improvements had really helped. They said, “Because of great communication; I feel like I can relax, confident knowing he is being looked after.”

There were systems in place for the oversight of staff support, risks, and ensuring the completion of important tasks. The provider and home manager undertook regular audits and detailed quality checks.

We made a recommendation about the arrangements in place for having oversight of and providing support to staff providing overnight care.

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right Support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.

The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture.

Right Support:

• The model of care and the accommodation maximised people’s choice and control, independence and promoted opportunities for inclusion. Rivenhall care home was set out across three houses in a terrace that operated as three separate households. Each person’s accommodation was thoughtfully designed and adapted in partnership with them and their family to ensure it met their needs and preferences.

The model and style of accommodation promoted people having an ordinary lifestyle within their community and having control over their environment. For most people, the home provided support and accommodation close to their families.

Right care:

• People’s care was person-centred and promoted their dignity, privacy and human Rights. People were supported to make their own decisions and take the lead in their lives, staff respected people’s decisions and promoted people making as many choices as possible. Each person had a detailed personalised care plan that focused on their needs, preferences and what was important to them. Care plans were written in partnership with people and those that are important to them, such as their family members.

Right culture:

• There was a positive, person-centred culture amongst the staff team. It was clear that people living at the home had benefitted from this approach and had experienced positive outcomes. The provider worked collaboratively and in partnership with people using the service and a range of stakeholders. In the staff team there was a culture of listening to people and taking action based upon their feedback.

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

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 7 August 2020 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection following registration with CQC.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

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.