We inspected Ridgewell House on the 8 November 2018.

Ridgewell House is a residential care home for 16 people, some of whom may be living with dementia. On the day of our inspection 12 people were using the service. The service has spacious living areas and is set over two floors with a stair lift in place should this be needed. The service is set in a residential area with easy access to the local community and has a large garden. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

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.

People were cared for safely by staff who had been recruited and employed after appropriate checks had been completed. People’s needs were met by sufficient numbers of staff. Care and treatment was planned and delivered in a way that was intended to ensure people's safety and welfare. There were systems in place to minimise the risk of infection. Medication was dispensed by staff who had received training to do so.

People were safeguarded from the potential of harm and their freedoms protected. Staff were provided with training in Safeguarding Adults from abuse, Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People had sufficient amounts to eat and drink to ensure that their dietary and nutritional needs were met. The service worked well with other professionals to ensure that people's health needs were met. The environment was appropriately designed and adapted to meet people’s needs.

Staff were well trained and attentive to people's needs. Staff could demonstrate that they knew people well. Staff treated people with dignity and respect.

People and their relatives were involved in the planning and review of their care. Care plans were reviewed on a regular basis and when there was a change in care needs. People were provided with the opportunity to participate in activities which interested them. People knew how to make a complaint should they need to. People were provided with the appropriate care and support at the end of their life.

The manager had a number of ways of gathering people’s views, they held regular meetings with people and their relatives and used questionnaires to gain feedback. The manager carried out quality monitoring to help ensure the service was running effectively and to make continual improvements.

The inspection took place on 28 November 2015 and was unannounced.

Ridgewell House provides accommodation and personal care for up to 16 older people who may also be living with dementia. The service does not provide nursing care. At the time of our inspection there were 15 people using the service.

A registered manager was in post at the service. 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 safe because the manager and staff understood their responsibilities in managing risk and identifying abuse. People received safe care that met their assessed needs.

Staff, who had been recruited safely, had the skills and knowledge to provide care and support that met people’s needs in ways that they preferred.

The provider had systems in place to manage medicines and staff supported people to take their prescribed medicines safely.

Staff had the skills and knowledge to provide effective care. People’s health and social needs were managed effectively with input from relevant health care professionals. People had sufficient food and drink that met their individual nutritional needs.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) monitors the operation of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) which apply to care homes. We found the provider had followed the MCA code of practice.

People were treated with kindness and respect by staff who knew them well and their care was delivered in a dignified manner.

Staff respected people’s choices and took their preferences into account when providing care and support. People were encouraged to enjoy pastimes and interests of their choice and were supported to maintain relationships with friends and family so that they were not socially isolated.

There was an open culture and the manager supported and encouraged staff to provide care that was centred on the individual.

The provider had systems in place to check the quality of the service and take the views and concerns of people and their relatives into account to make improvements to the service.

Some of the people who lived at Ridgewell House were unable to discuss their care with us and some people spoke generally with us. We observed how people spent their time and noted how they interacted with other people who lived in the home and with staff. We saw that the people appeared happy.

Relatives who completed surveys as part of the home’s quality monitoring process were complimentary about the care provided at Ridgewell House. One relative said: “We are more than happy with the care and love given to [our relative].” Another relative said: “This home is very welcoming and caring.”

Staff listened to people and treated them with respect. It was evident that staff knew people well and understood their individual needs. People received care and support that was person-centred and caring.

On the day of our inspection we saw that people enjoyed their lunch and we saw that there were processes in place to ensure that people received appropriate nutrition to meet their specific needs.

The manager followed robust recruitment and training procedures to make sure staff had the skills and knowledge to care for people safely.

The provider had processes in place to seek the opinions of people who used the service and they carried out checks to monitor quality and safety in the home.

Improvements had been made to records which contained the information staff needed to deliver care safely.

People told us that they were happy living at Ridgewell House and things had improved recently with a new manager. One person who lived here told us she felt safe and comfortable living here and that the food was good. A relative told us that they were made to feel welcome whenever they visit and that the person living here was well cared for. People told us that they knew how to make comments or complaints and that they would be listened to. One person told us that the person living here had settled in very well and the staff had made a very positive impression throughout their time here. One person living here had brought their cat to live here too and the other people living her enjoyed this very much.

We observed people enjoying their meal and the choices on offer. We found the property to be welcoming, clean and suitable for the people living here. Staff told us they were happy working here and had support to develop professionally. Recent changes to management were making positive improvements according to both staff and relatives of people living here.

A suitable programme of further improvements was taking place and people living here, staff and families are all involved in decision making about these changes.

People told us that they were very happy with the care and support offered at Ridgewell House. People felt that the service had improved and as one person said, "The home now has a heart again." People said that Ridgewell House was a very friendly and warm home where staff were kind. People told us that the management of the home was very good.

People with whom we spoke said that they had choice in their day to day lives and that generally their needs were being met although activities/social care was lacking at times. People told us that they were happy with the food provided and overall they felt that the home had improved in the last few months. Comments included "Things are on the up".

People living in the home felt that, at times, choices were limited. This related to food, social activities and the availability of staff.

Relatives told us that they had concerns at times about the care provided, the food and the staff in the home.

People living in the home said that staff spent a lot of time in the kitchen away from the residents and relatives felt that the home was run by the staff for the convenience of the staff. People living in the home said that 'most of the staff listen to you' and some identified staff who they felt were 'kind'.

People living in the home felt that the standard of food was variable with some days it being 'first class' and other days it being 'adequate'.