Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on Riverside Family Practice on 16 August 2017. The overall rating for the practice was requires improvement as the safe, effective and well led domains were all rated as requires improvement. The full comprehensive report on the August 2017 inspection can be found by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for the Riverside Family Practice on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

This inspection was carried out on 18 January 2018 to confirm that the practice had carried out their plan to meet the legal requirements in relation to the breach identified in the requirement notice.

The practice is now rated as good for providing safe, effective, and well led services. Overall the practice is rated as good.

Our key findings were as follows:

• The practice had taken action to address the concerns raised at the CQC inspection in August 2017. They had put measures in place to ensure they were compliant with regulations.
• Appropriate arrangements were now in place to ensure that risk assessments were updated.
• The practice had improved arrangements for review and update of policies and dissemination to staff.
• Recommendations made at the previous inspection, such as updated training in safeguarding and considering management training for staff had been actioned.

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice

Letter from the Chief Inspector of General Practice

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection at Riverside Family Practice (previously known as Ruskin Family Practice) on 16th August 2017. Overall the practice is rated as requires improvement.

Our key findings across all the areas we inspected were as follows:

• There was an open and transparent approach to safety and a system in place for reporting and recording significant events.

• We saw no evidence that infection control audits were being undertaken or improvements planned.

• Staff had not received safeguarding training appropriate to their role

• Staff assessed patients’ needs and delivered care in line with current evidence based guidance. Staff had been trained to provide them with the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment.
• Patients said they were treated with compassion, dignity and respect.
• The practice was comparable with the average for its satisfaction scores on consultations with GPs and nurses
• The health and wellbeing of patients in relation to their caring responsibilities was reviewed when they attended for a consultation or health check. They were directed to the various avenues of support available to them.
• Information about the services provided and how to complain was available and easy to understand. Improvements were made to the quality of care as a result of complaints and concerns.
• Patients told us they found it easy to make an appointment with the GP and there was continuity of care, with urgent appointments available the same day.
• The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.
• There was insufficient quality monitoring to ensure care and treatment was effective

• There was a clear leadership structure and staff felt supported by management. The practice proactively sought feedback from staff and patients, which it acted on.
• The provider was aware of and complied with the requirements of the duty of candour.

There were areas where the provider must make improvements:

• Establish effective systems and processes to ensure good governance in accordance with the fundamental standards of care

• Ensure persons employed in the provision of the regulated activity receive the appropriate training, and appraisal necessary to enable them to carry out the duties.

There were areas where the provider should make improvements:

• The practice safeguarding policy for vulnerable adults should be individualised to reflect the needs of the practice locality.

• Practice staff should complete a Disclosure Barring Service check prior to undertaking chaperone duties.

• Care and treatment of patients should only provided with the consent of the relevant person .

• The practice should consider supporting staff to undertake management training.

• Continue to identify and support patients who are also carers

Professor Steve Field (CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP) 

Chief Inspector of General Practice