Activities at Rivermead Care Home

Lena has lived here at Rivermead since 2013 and has been newly appointed as our home’s Resident Ambassador. This is a role that allows Lena to be a voice for other people living here and a help to those moving in.

Lena, originally a ‘Lancashire Lass’, married her military husband which meant she travelled around from place to place and enjoyed getting to know lots of areas in the UK. Lena than chose Rivermead for her home as Malton is an ideal location for all of her family in the area to visit.

Lena said, ‘to me, the role of a resident ambassador is an important one because not everyone I live with are able to take their thoughts and feelings to the team so I am able to be the voice for them. I also know what an overwhelming experience it is to move in to a new home. I’m lucky that I have been here a long time and know I am well looked after and that this is a happy home and we help each other. I’m glad I’ll be able to offer some reassurance for people at the start of their search for a new home and answer any questions they might have, from a resident’s perspective'.

Lena’s main responsibilities include helping potential residents and their families when they stop by for a visit and being a friendly and familiar face for other residents who might find moving into a care a challenging transition. Lena is dedicated to helping the team at Rivermead improve services and facilities at the home and is enjoying thinking up creative ways to make Rivermead a place of excellence.

Rivermead Care Home on Scarborough Road in Norton near Malton passed a recent Care Quality Commission inspection with an overall “Good” rating after being praised for a responsive, safe, effective, caring and well-led service.

The CQC inspected the home and released their report on 23 January 2020 and rated the home, run by Barchester Healthcare, as “Good” overall.

The report stated that “People had choice and control of their lives and the staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. There was a planned programme of activities open to everyone including family and friends.”

The report went on to say “Staff knew about peoples individual care needs and care plans were person-centred and up to date. People and relatives gave us positive feedback about the staff and described them as "Excellent, caring and friendly." Staff treated people who used the service with compassion, dignity and respect.”

Also highlighted in the report was that “The service was well managed and organised. The management team assessed and monitored the quality of care provided to people. People and staff were asked for their views and their suggestions were used to continuously improve the service.”

In celebration of the rating and to thank each member of the team for their contributions to the home, each team member was presented with £100 gift voucher in appreciation of their hard work.

Carol Berry, General Manager at Rivermead said: “We are delighted that Rivermead was rated ‘Good’ overall following the CQC’s most recent inspection. The team here always strive to provide the best possible quality care for everyone who lives at the home.”

The full CQC report can be read here: https://www.cqc.org.uk/location/1-125861852

The staff and residents at Rivermead care home in Malton have been flipping and turning pancakes all morning in preparation for their annual Shrove Tuesday pancake making. Rivermead has marked this year’s Pancake Day with a day of fun-filled  activities, pancake making and a flipping competition. Of course, lots of pancakes flipped serving them up with sweet and savoury fillings.

One Resident said: “My secret to the best pancakes is all in the whipping. Give it some elbow grease when mixing the batter and you’ll get perfect pancakes every time. I like experimenting with the fillings – the residents’ favourites are spinach and cheese, chocolate spread and banana and of course, good old fashioned lemon and sugar!”

We were proud to help ‘Sunny Days Children’s Charity’, which supports children under the age of 18 with a wide range of adverse medical conditions including leukaemia and cerebral palsy. We wanted to be able to contribute and so residents and staff put the fun in to fundraising and enjoyed a raffle and a coffee morning full of tasty treats and chatter, raising £90 for the cause.

A little cuppa and catch up brings sunshine to our day, especially when we have fun decorating our biccy treats! Residents at Rivermead enjoy activities like baking every day, as well as arts and crafts, singing and all kinds of fun pastimes that bring us closer together.  

Our residents were delighted when our friends from Norton Primary School came to visits. The pupils had been busy creating cards and gifts for their friends here at the home and excitedly came in to hand them out. We’re so happy to have such a special relationship with the school and were really touched by this thoughtful festive gesture.