Rivermead is a residential care home located in Kempston, which is just outside Bedford. They are registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to 33 older people who may also be living with dementia. On the day of our inspection there were 32 people living at the service.

At the last inspection on 20 July 2015 the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found that it continues to be Good.

The service had 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.

People's care was not always person-centred. We found that activities and entertainment did take place but were not regular enough to ensure that people were as active and stimulated as possible. The service was however taking steps to attempt to address this. Care plans were in place and reviewed on a regular basis and feedback, including complaints, was welcomed and acted upon.

People were supported to stay safe. Staff members were knowledgeable about abuse and the requirement to report any incidents and accidents which took place. Systems were in place to assess risks to people and staffing levels were sufficient to meet people's basic care needs. Medicines were stored, administered and recorded appropriately.

Staff members received training and support to enable them to perform their roles. People's consent to their care and support was sought and procedures were in place to ensure the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 were being followed. The health and nutritional needs of people were being met.

There were positive relationships and interactions between people and members of staff. Staff knew people well and worked hard to ensure their needs were met. People were involved in their care and provided with the information they needed about the service. People's privacy and dignity were promoted and staff treated them with respect.

There was an open and positive culture at the service and staff were motivated to perform their roles. The registered manager was well known to people and staff and provided them with the support they needed. There were systems to ensure they were meeting their regulatory requirements and quality assurance and audit processes were in place to help monitor and improve the service.

Rivermead is a care home providing personal care and support for up to 33 older people, who may also be living with dementia. It is situated in Kempston, which is close to Bedford. On the day of our inspection there were 30 people living at the service.

The inspection took place 10 July 2015.

The service had 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.

People were supported to see different health professionals to promote their health and well-being. However, there were not always records available from these visits to indicate what had been discussed, or what action would happen next.

People felt safe within the service and staff were knowledgeable about abuse and procedures for reporting it.

Risk assessments had been carried out to reduce the harm which people may be exposed to. These provided staff with guidance on how to manage risks.

There were enough members of staff on shift to support people and meet their needs. Robust and safe recruitment practices were followed.

People’s medicines were stored and administered safely by trained staff who had their competency assessed.

Staff received regular training and support to develop their skills and to keep them up-to-date.

Consent for care was sought by staff on a daily basis and had been recorded in people’s care plans.

People were provided with a health and balanced diet, as well as a comfortable environment to eat their meals. They were supported to eat and drink if necessary.

People were happy with the care they received. Staff were kind, caring and compassionate when supporting people.

Privacy and dignity were respected by staff at all times.

People’s care was personalised to meet their needs and staff were knowledgeable about each individual and their specific needs.

Care plans were based upon these needs and contained detailed information, including their background and personal history.

People were aware of how to make complaints. Complaints that had been made had been investigated and dealt with appropriately.

There was good leadership in place and people and staff felt well supported by the registered manager.

The registered manager led by example and worked alongside the staff to ensure people’s needs were met.

There were quality control systems in place to ensure the service was performing and identify areas for development.