A respite care home in the London borough of Hammersmith & Fulham has again been rated Outstanding overall by the Care Quality Commission.
Rivercourt Project Short Breaks was rated Outstanding for being caring, responsive and well-led. It was rated Good for being safe and effective, following the inspection which took place in November and December 2018.
The service promoted independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using Rivercourt can live as ordinary a life as anybody. Rivercourt is registered to accommodate up five people and about 40 people used the service for flexible periods each year.
Rivercourt continued to deliver outstanding care and support to provide people with an enjoyable and safe respite experience, and offered opportunities to learn new skills, develop and maintain friendships and fulfilling social activities within Rivercourt and in the wider community.
People’s needs and wishes were met in an outstandingly responsive way. People were encouraged to learn new skills and benefit from a diverse range of experiences during their respite stays. These included baking and food preparation, grocery shopping, arts and crafts, gardening, pub lunches, bowling, trips to the park and outings to places of interest.
Management and staff demonstrated that vibrant and innovative improvements had been implemented since CQC’s previous inspection, which included supporting people to creatively fundraise and participate in a trip to South Africa to carry out voluntary work for charity.
One relative commented: “The service is excellent. The staff are diligent and caring. The registered manager is very jolly and enthusiastic but most of all the place feels like home and I feel confident leaving a vulnerable person here.”
A health care professional told CQC: “The service goes way beyond what a straightforward respite provision offer would look like. The short breaks include very personalised access into the wider community and beyond.”
The evidence collected during the inspection demonstrated that the service continued to be managed in an outstanding way.
Debbie Ivanova, CQC’s Deputy Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care, said: “Rivercourt Project Short Breaks respite care home has again proved it provides Outstanding care for the people that use it.
“It is well-led and provides activities and trips that are hugely desirable. It was great to hear about the one to South Africa, where people were able to sing at a school, performing songs in Swahili, Bembe and Zulu as well as English.”
You can read the inspection report in full when it is published on CQC’s website by clicking at www.cqc.org.uk/location/1-140858290
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