Rievaulx House Care Centre is a 'care home'. People in care homes receive accommodation and personal care under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Rievaulx House Care Centre is registered to provide accommodation for people who require personal care and people living with dementia. During our inspection, there were 49 people living in the home. At our last inspection we rated the service good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

At this inspection we found the service Good.

The provider had robust systems and procedures in place to keep people safe. There was a whistleblowing policy in place and staff knew how to raise concerns should this be required. Risk assessments had been completed and reviewed regularly. Accidents and incidents were managed effectively and action taken to prevent future risks.

Medicines were managed effectively and they were stored correctly in line with the provider's policy. People told us they received their medicines as prescribed and said regular reviews meant their needs were met and health had improved.

Staffing levels were sufficient to meet people's needs and robust recruitment processes were in place to ensure people were of suitable character. Staff carried out training to ensure they had adequate skills and knowledge to meet people's needs. Staff were supported with regular supervisions and appraisals.

Health and safety checks were completed regularly and staff followed the provider’s procedures for infection control. However, we did observe staff not wearing aprons at lunch. Fire evacuations were carried out to ensure people could be supported in an event of a fire.

Staff were aware of people's nutritional needs and we found people were offered choices about their food preferences. Some people told us the quality of food could be improved. People also received appropriate support from staff to maintain their health and wellbeing.

People are supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff support them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service support this practice.

People told us staff were kind and caring. We saw people were encouraged to remain as independent as possible and people told us staff resected their need for privacy. The provider had an equality and diversity policy in place, which staff followed. Care plans included people’s preferences, likes and dislikes so their individual needs could be met.

Initial assessments were carried out before people moved into the home to ensure their needs could be met. Care plans were person-centred and reviewed regularly or when people's needs changed. People accessing the service were supported to participate in activities, to prevent social isolation. The provider had recently employed a mini bus driver, which meant people could do activities outside of the local area and facilitated further choice.

Staff told us the registered manager was supportive and approachable. Some people living in the home did not know the registered manager but all people said they would feel confident to raise any issues. Complaints were managed and the provider had responded to people in a timely manner to address any concerns raised. The provider also received compliments from people and their relatives.

Surveys were carried out to gather people and their relatives view. This meant actions could be taken to address issues to drive improvement. Meetings were carried out with people living in the home, staff and management to ensure communication was open and people kept informed of any provi

The inspection took place on 25 April 2016 2016 and was unannounced. At our last inspection in August 2015 we found the provider was meeting the regulations we inspected.

Rievaulx House provides accommodation and personal care for up to 50 people. The home is located in a residential area close to the city of Leeds. Accommodation is in single rooms which all have en-suite facilities. At the time of inspection 43 people were living there. The service did not have a registered manager at the time of our inspection. An acting manager was in place until the newly appointed manager took up their position. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

We found people were cared for, or supported by, sufficient numbers of suitably qualified and experienced staff. Robust recruitment procedures were in place to make sure suitable staff worked with people who used the service. Staff received the training and support required to meet people’s needs.

There was opportunity for people to be involved in activities within the home. The home did not at the time of inspection have an activity coordinator in the home. The acting manager told us they were recruiting for someone due to the previous activity coordinator leaving the service only a few weeks before the inspection.

Staff understood people's needs and provided care and support accordingly. Staff were aware and knew how to respect people’s privacy and dignity.

Staff had a good understanding and knowledge of safeguarding procedures and were clear about the actions they would take to protect people they supported. People told us they felt safe with staff and we saw there were systems and processes in place to protect people from the risk of harm. People were protected against the risks associated with medicines because the provider had appropriate arrangements in place to manage medicines safely.

The acting manager and staff understood the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. The care plans we looked at contained relevant mental capacity assessments where appropriate.

Care plans were detailed and provided an accurate description of people's care and support needs. People were supported with their nutritional and hydration needs and had access to a range of healthcare services

There was an effective system in place to respond to complaints and concerns. Effective systems were in place which ensured people received safe quality care. People had opportunity to comment on the quality of service and influence service delivery.

We carried out an unannounced comprehensive inspection of this service on 9 and 17 December 2014 at which a breach of legal requirements were found. This was because people who used the service were not protected against risks associated with the unsafe use, management and storage of medicines. After the comprehensive inspection in December 2014, the provider wrote to us to say what they would do to meet legal requirements in relation to the breach.

We undertook a focused inspection on 4 August 2015 to check they had followed their plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements. At our unannounced focused inspection on 4 August 2015, we found the provider had followed their plan which they had told us would be completed by May 2015, and legal requirements had been met.

This report only covers our findings in relation to this requirement. You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the 'all reports' link for “Rievaulx House” on our website at www.cqc.org.uk’

Rievaulx House Care Centre provides accommodation and personal care for up to 50 people. The home is located in a residential area close to the city of Leeds. Accommodation is in single rooms which all have en-suite facilities.

At the time of our inspection the home had a registered manager in place. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

We found that appropriate arrangements were in place for the recording, storing and administration of medications at the time of our focused inspection.

We spoke with 18 people who live in the home to gain their views of the service. All the people spoken with said they were given appropriate information and support regarding their care or treatment. One person told us “It’s great the staff are so kind and caring.” Another person said “You could not ask for a better place to be in.”

During the visit we spoke with five visiting relatives and they told us they were happy with the service. One visitor told us “I have seen photos of mum doing activities like dancing. It is nice to see her looking happy.” Another visitor said “I know my mum is safe and I know the staff will make sure she is not harmed.”

People said ‘The staff are lovely, but I feel they don’t have time to speak to me as they are rushed off their feet’.

‘It would be lovely if staff had the time to sit and chat with us like we are doing now’.

The people we spoke with said that there has been instances when there has been an emergency at night and they have rung their personal bell and it has not been answered as there was just not enough staff

People said that when they or a relative has complained to staff about issues they are not aware of what the outcome has been.

Relative told us they were worried about the staffing levels in the home. They said the staff were lovely but were busy. They said staff had no time to spend with people living in the home and there was nothing for people to do other than sit in front of the television all day. at a time that suite me and I’m happy with the care”. Another person said “I like to get up early so I could get a good wash”.

One person said “We need more entertainment. A visitor spoken with during our visit said staff were pleasant and courteous and talk to people when they were supporting them. Another said when ever we come we observe some very nice interaction between staff and people. People told us they will talk to relatives, staff or management if they have any concerns. People who use the service and their visitors said the home is clean and good systems are in place to prevent and control infections. One person said, “The place is always clean” another said “If a mess is made staff would clean it up right away”.

One visitor said “When I have visited I have always found the home to be clean and tidy, it has always smelt fresh as you know home’s sometimes have an odour to them”.

People who use the service said they were generally treated well and had their views taken into account. One person said “I get up

The inspection took place on 9 and 17 December 2014 and was unannounced. At the last inspection on 23, 24 April 2014 and 2 May 2014 we found the provider had breached the staffing regulation of the Health and Social Care Act 2008. We asked the provider to take action and we found this action has been completed

Rievaulx House Care Centre is purpose built and provides accommodation and personal care for up to 50 people. The home is located in a residential area close to the city centre of Leeds. Accommodation is in single rooms which all have en-suite facilities. The home is on two floors and has lift access, each floor has a communal lounge and dining room and then a smaller lounge. They have a level access car park and garden there is a garden at the rear of the care centre.

The service has a Registered Manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

Medicines were not managed safely. During the inspection we noted a number of shortfalls in the way medication was administered , stored and recorded .We saw examples where out of date medication had been administered and medication that needed to be sored at room temperature to be most effective was stored in the fridge.

This is a breach of Regulation 13, (Management of medicine); of The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2010, which corresponds to Regulation 12 (f) and (g) of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 in safe care and treatment.

Staff were employed in sufficient numbers to care for people safely, though staff told us at busy times this meant they did not have time to engage with people other than when delivering care interventions.

People told us they felt safe at the service. Staff were knowledgeable about how to keep people safe and prevent them from avoidable harm.

We saw people looked well cared for. We saw staff speaking in a caring and respectful manner to people who lived in the home. Staff demonstrated that they knew people’s individual characters, likes and dislikes. People using the service told us they received good support from the care staff

The service had effective systems in place to ensure staff were recruited safely. Some staff told us they did not always feel well supported. However, we saw supervision took place. Staff had access to training and all staff had an annual appraisal.

An effective induction programme was in place to support new members of staff to deliver good care and support to people who used the service.

The Care Quality Commission is required by law to monitor and report on providers’ adherence to the requirements of The Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). Where one person’s freedom had been restricted in order to keep them and others safe a DoLS authorisation had been sought and was in place. Care staff had training in relation to The Mental Capacity Act and showed good knowledge about people living in the service and whether they were able to give consent.

People enjoyed the food and were offered choices and regular snacks and drinks throughout the day. When people needed additional support during mealtimes this was provided.

Although the service had an activities co-ordinator we found not all the activities were matched to people’s personal hobbies and interests and were generic .

The service had effective systems in place to monitor the quality of care provided. The operations manager carried out a monthly compliance visit and identified any areas where improvements were required. We saw audits were completed.

We found a breaches of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2010 which has since been replaced by the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. You can see what action we told the provider to take at the back of the full version of the report.