Riverside Care Home

The assessment was prompted in part by notification of a safeguarding incident. This is subject to further investigation by CQC as to whether any regulatory action should be taken. We also had to follow up on action we told the previous provider to take at the last assessment in October 2025. At that assessment, the provider was found to be in breach of 3 legal regulations in relation to safeguarding, person centred care and good governance. Warning notices were issued.

At this assessment, we found the provider had made progress in addressing previous regulatory breaches, particularly in relation to risk management, governance and oversight. Improvements had been made to how risks associated with people’s health, medical and care needs were assessed, recorded and monitored. Staff and people using the service told us they had seen positive changes since the last assessment. However, we identified new concerns in relation to medicines management. While medicines had previously been managed safely, we found they were not always received, stored, administered or disposed of safely at this assessment. The registered manager acknowledged these concerns and confirmed immediate action would be taken.

People were safeguarded from harm through established systems and clear reporting processes. Staff understood their responsibilities and there was a comprehensive safeguarding policy outlining how to escalate concerns. Infection prevention and control arrangements were effective, and staff followed appropriate procedures to help keep people safe.

The service continued to operate in line with the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Staff had a good understanding of people’s individual needs and supported them to make decisions wherever possible. People and relatives were involved in discussions about their care, and regular meetings provided opportunities for feedback and involvement in the running of the home.

Staff were recruited safely, and there were enough staff on duty to meet people’s needs. Staff received training relevant to their roles and had regular supervision to support ongoing development.

Leadership within the service had strengthened. The management team demonstrated a clear commitment to improvement and had taken steps to strengthen oversight through more robust quality assurance systems. Audit processes had improved, and actions were now recorded and followed up to ensure continued progress. The nominated individual and management team assured us that improvements would continue to be embedded to support sustained positive change.