The Ridings

Updated 23 March 2021

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of CQC’s response to the coronavirus pandemic we are looking at the preparedness of care homes in relation to infection prevention and control. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection control and prevention measures the provider has in place.

This inspection took place on 25 February 2021 and was unannounced.

Updated 23 March 2021

About the service:

The Ridings is a small scale care home located in a residential setting near community facilities. The service provides personal care and support for up to four people who have a learning disability and/or autistic spectrum disorder. At the time of this inspection there were four people who used the service.

The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service 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 receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

People's experience of using this service and what we found People lived in a service that was safe. Staff understood how to raise concerns about people's safety. Risks to people were understood and there was clear guidance for staff about how to support people to reduce these. People were supported by enough staff who had been recruited safely.

People received their medicines safely from staff who had received the right training. Staff training was up to date and we saw staff used best practice when interacting with people. Communication with other agencies involved in people's care, helped promote consistency and best practice in how their needs were met.

People's needs were assessed holistically, and staff's in depth understanding of what was important to people had resulted in positive outcomes for people. People were supported to remain healthy and encouraged to eat a balanced diet.

The service had been designed and developed to meet people's preferences. Staff and the registered manager regularly reflected on any changes they could make to better meet people's needs.

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.

People were cared for by staff who valued them as individuals and took time to understand them. Staff were constantly developing ways to help ensure people's voice was heard and that staff responded in the way people wanted. People's records contained information about their preferred methods of communication and staff understood and used these. People appeared comfortable with the staff who were supporting them and happily communicated their views and opinions.

People's care plans detailed their needs and the support they required from staff. These were regularly updated as staff learned more about people and how to meet their needs.

People's views of the staff and service were sought regularly. Staff also had opportunity to influence how the service met people's needs. Checks and audits were regularly completed to help ensure the service continued to improve. For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection: Good (Inspection report published in August 2017)

Why we inspected: This was a scheduled inspection based on the previous rating.

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