17 Dovedale Close
Welling
Kent
DA16 3BU
| Care Type | Care Home |
|---|---|
| Care Category | Residential | Dementia | Respite |
| Availability | Yes |
| Weekly Prices From | £1,590.00 |
| Regulator's Rating | Requires Improvement |
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Gerard Balo is Manager at Riverdale Court.
Gerard brings over 25 years of dedicated experience in the health and social care sector. Throughout his career, he has successfully managed several care homes across London and Suffolk, consistently leading services to achieve good CQC ratings.
He holds a Level 5 qualification in Leadership and Health & Social Care Management, alongside a postgraduate degree in Economics. His blend of professional expertise and academic insight strengthens his ability to lead high quality, person centred services.
Gerard is passionate about delivering exceptional care. He empowers his team to work with kindness, compassion, and respect, ensuring that every resident at Riverdale feels valued, supported, and truly at home.
Riverdale Court care home is situated in Welling, in the London Borough of Bexley and provides residential care for people living with dementia
Riverdale Court offers a wealth of support services for people living with dementia, with the aim of providing care and comfort and a new, positive and more engaging stage in the lives of all Residents. The team of qualified and attentive staff provide 24 hour specialist person centred dementia care.
Avante’s Philosophy of Care is The Eden Alternative, which is based on the core belief that ageing should be a continued stage of development and growth, rather than a period of decline. In a culture that typically views aging as a period of decline, the Eden Alternative philosophy asserts that no matter how old we are or what challenges we live with, life is about continuing to grow. The Eden Alternative seeks to cure loneliness, not with medication, but by providing residents with companionship and surrounding them with life. It seeks to cure helplessness by assistance with existing skills and interests; the opportunity to learn new ones and by encouraging residents to feel engaged and useful in their community
| Care Options | We Can Provide |
|---|---|
| Support For | Companionship, Convalescence, End of Life, High Dependency, Palliative, Personal care, Rehabilitation, Support for Couples. |
| Disability Support | Physical Disability, Physically Frail, Requires Hoist , Walking Frame. |
| Medication | By Mouth. |
| Type Of Dementia | Mild Dementia, Moderate Dementia. |
| Dementia Behaviour | Challenging Behaviour, Wandering . |
| Dementia Specialisms | Alzheimer's, Lewy Body, Mixed Dementias, Vascular Dementia. |
| Respite Care | Yes |
Autumna has invited care providers to evidence the infection control measures they are carrying out, above and beyond those laid out by the government, in order to keep residents, staff and visitors safe.
| What we're doing to keep residents & visitors safe | ||
|---|---|---|
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Riverdale Court is working within the government guidelines to help protect its staff and clients. |
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| Infection Control Initiatives in place | ||
|---|---|---|
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Independent Assessments | We have been independently assessed in our approach to infection control. |
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Infection Control Training | Our staff are trained to use measures which prevent and control infections. |
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Sterilisation & Disinfection Devices | We are using sterilisation and/or disinfection devices within our care setting. |
| Safe Visiting Space | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Connectivity for resident testing, monitoring & communications |
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Infection control and the safety of both residents and staff often requires quarantine measures and the isolation of care home residents. To test, monitor and allow residents to communicate with relatives, the prevalence of room-level connectivity within the home is becoming increasingly relevant. Wireless Internet access (WiFi) The Care Organisation has not indicated availability Mobile Phone Network Coverage (mobile “signal”) The Care Organisation has not indicated availability Telephone for external calling The Care Organisation has not indicated availability Family Portal Yes, our care home has provides families with a family portal. Find out more about Family Portals. |
Social media provides an up to date window on the activities within a provider's setting.
With the restrictions on visiting during the pandemic, social media platforms such as these offer real insight when you are choosing a provider.
| Minimum Age |
|---|
| 60 |
| LGBTQ Welcome |
|---|
| Yes |
| Our Building and Facilities |
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Facilities include a tea and coffee making facility on the ground floor which offers a meeting place to enjoy a drink with family and friends There is a hairdressing salon, ‘Snips’, where you can treat yourself to a new hair style or beauty treatment and a nail bar There is wheelchair access throughout the home and garden areas. Residents have easy access to the garden and patio areas, via the main reception/meeting place The first floor has easily accessible balcony areas, although these are not a substitute for access to the garden There is a 'Rempod' on the first floor, which is a virtual train journey |
| Is Our Home Purpose Built |
|---|
| Yes |
| The Year Our Home Was Built |
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| 1 Jan 2011 |
| How Many Floors We Have |
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| 2 |
| Who Owns Our Building |
|---|
| Charity |
| Communal Rooms |
|---|
| Activities Room, Coffee Shop / Café, Dining Rooms, Sitting Rooms, TV Lounges. |
| What Else Do We Provide |
|---|
| Assisted Bathroom, Hairdressers, Lift, Minibus, Smoking Area. |
| Our Garden |
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| Communal Garden, Private Garden(s), Seating, Secure Garden, Sensory Garden, Wheelchair Friendly Access. |
| How 'Smart' Are We? |
|---|
| Individual Heating Controls, Interactive Digital Touch Table, Reduce Plastic Use, Virtual Reality. |
| Description |
|---|
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All of the bedrooms have bright modern en suite facilities with individual colour schemes to provide relaxation and a sense of well-being. Residents are ebcouraged to bring small items of personal furniture, and other possessions to personalise their rooms. |
| About Our Rooms | |
|---|---|
| Number Of Rooms | 80 |
| Number Of Ensuite Rooms | 80 |
| Type Of Room |
|---|
| Single Room. |
| Room Features |
|---|
| Furnished, Garden View, Step Free Access. |
| Room Facilities |
|---|
| Alarm, Internet Access, Telephone Point, Wifi. |
| Weekly Fees Start From | Fee |
|---|---|
| Residential Fees From / Price Per Week | £1,590.00 |
| Funding Types | |
|---|---|
| Local Authority | Bexley |
| Region | London |
| We Accept Self-Funding Clients | Yes |
| We Accept Local Authority Funding | Yes |
| We Accept NHS Continuing Healthcare | Yes |
| We Accept Local Authority funding with a Third Party Top-Up | Yes |
Choice Dining is a food-focused accreditation designed to give care-seekers like yourself the ability to consider and compare the dining experience within different care settings.
To be awarded the Choice Dining badge, a care home will have committed to delivering exceptional dining experiences with a strong focus on preference, individuality, hygiene and the environment. You can explore the specifics of all participating homes in the tab below to learn more about the food on offer, how it is served and presented and what they’re doing to cater for your personal taste. Find out more about Choice Dining.
| Styles of Food |
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|---|---|
| Dining Locations |
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| Dining Styles |
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| Hospitality |
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The preparation, nutritional value and presentation of food.
Attractive drinks and adaptive cups/glasses are available and accessible where needed.
Individual dietary needs are person centred.
Meals reflect the nutritional needs of the residents.
Our menu is balanced.
Snacks are provided for residents that require texture-modified food.
Sweet and savoury foods are provided between meals (this does not just include cakes and biscuits).
A la Carte
Hot Trolley
Room Service
A critical component for good health.

Hand hygiene for both residents and staff.
We are following best practice including NICE guidelines as a standard.
We are conducting internal and/or 3rd party food safety audits.
We have allergen management policies in place.
A freedom to eat the food you want, when you want it.
Families are invited for meals [Covid permitting].
Residents dining in their own room have the same food options as elsewhere.
Residents dining in their own room have their food presented to same standard as elsewhere.
Residents have access to Dining Room.
Residents have the option of dining in their own room.
Staff also dine themselves with the residents they support.
Staff sit with the residents they support when they dine.
Residents can order food not on the menu, or have access to an ‘evergreen menu’.
Residents have access to a flexible meal service beyond defined times.
More than one option is available at mealtimes for all residents, including those with special and theraputic diets.
Residents with dementia are shown food or visual menus to help them decide.
There is a weekly menu.
We offer catering for special events.
Residents are involved in the creation of the menu.
The best interest choices are made for residents unable to make their own choices.
Understanding the wants and requirements of every individual be it cultural, religious or dietary.
Gluten-free food can be served.
Vegetarian food can be served.
We can support people with Diabetes.
Delivering a respectful and quality service.
Residents are given appropriate and dignified crockery / glassware and cutlery.
Tables are well laid.
We have food theme days/nights.
Staff understand and pre-empt potential meal-time behaviours which can impact nutritional intake.
Staff always use appropriate and dignified language (e.g. it is an ‘apron’ not a ‘bib’).
We promote an inclusive dining experience.
There are no unnecessary disruptions during mealtimes.
Being environmentally and socially responsible and thoughtful.
We correctly dispose of our waste.
We have a waste management system.
We monitor our food waste.
We use organically grown food.
Our energy usage is well maintained.
We are actively reducing food mileage.
| Activities Are So Important |
|---|
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At Riverdale Court 'Activities' are built around the personality and interests of each individual; there is also the opportunity to join in with group events if a person wishes to do so There is always something going on and having fun is an important part of our Philosophy of Care. Our Philosophy of Care is The Eden Alternative which is based on the core belief that ageing should be a continued stage of development and growth, rather than a period of decline. In a culture that typically views aging as a period of decline, the Eden Alternative philosophy asserts that no matter how old we are or what challenges we live with, life is about continuing to grow. The Eden Alternative seeks to cure loneliness, not with medication, but by providing residents with companionship and surrounding them with life Studies show that implementation of the Eden Alternative is a powerful tool for improving quality of life and quality of care for those living in care homes. Also, homes that have adopted Eden as an organisational-wide philosophy have found that there is improved staff satisfaction and retention and significant decreases in use of medication. |
| Activities At Home |
|---|
| 1 to 1 Activities, Animal Petting, Bingo, Birthday Celebrations, Board Games, Card Games, Choir, Cooking, Crafts, Crosswords, Dancing, Excursions, Exercise Class, Flower Arranging, Gardening, Knitting / Embroidery, Music Entertainment, Music Therapy, Painting, Pet Therapy, Quiz Games, Religious Services, Reminiscence, Singing, Themed Events, Visiting Entertainment. |
| Activities Outside Our Home |
|---|
| Cinema, Garden Centre, Local Tourist Attractions, Park, Pub, Shopping, Theatre. |
The Go Green badge is designed to give care-seekers like yourself the ability to consider and compare a care home’s sustainability and green practices.
The below statements are changes that the care provider has acknowledged they have implemented towards a more sustainable future.
The operation, maintenance, and repair of a property
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Do you use LED light bulbs? | Yes |
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Are your windows double glazed? | Yes |
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Do you use motion sensors? | Yes |
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Do you use eco-friendly cleaning products? | Yes |
The sourcing of goods and the landfill/recycling journey
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Do you monitor your waste? | Yes |
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Do you train your team on recycling practices? | Yes |
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Do you have systems for recycling throughout the home? | Yes |
Using digital rather than paper based processes
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Do you use digital payslips? | Yes |
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Do you use online rotas? | Yes |
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Do you use digital care plans? | Yes |
In-home and community projects that protect the environment
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Do you carry out projects that support wildlife? | Yes |
| Our Pets |
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In line with our Philosophy of care, the Eden Alternative, we believe it is the right of a resident to have access to animals, whether it is their own; one living in the care home or a visiting animal. The keeping of pets will be subject to agreement regarding the provision of veterinary fees, the cost of feeding and hygiene regimes. Avante's policy regarding the keeping of pets will be provided on request. |
| Can You Bring Your Pet |
|---|
| Yes |
| How We Help With Your Pet |
|---|
| Feeding, Sanitation, Walking. |
| We Welcome |
|---|
| Birds, Cats, Dogs, Others (subject to review), Rabbits. |
17 Dovedale Close
Welling
Kent
DA16 3BU
| Current Ratings | |
|---|---|
| Overall | Requires Improvement |
| Safe | Requires Improvement |
| Well Led | Requires Improvement |
| Caring | Good |
| Responsive | Good |
| Effective | Good |
| Inspection Reports | |
| Last inspected | 25th May 2021 |
| Last rated | 6th August 2021 |
| Current Report |
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| Historic Reports |
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| Registration Date | 4th March 2011 |
| Service Provider | Avante Care and Support Limited, ME13 8GD |
| Transport |
|---|
| Bus Stop nearby, Car Park on-site, Train Station nearby. |
| Places of Worship |
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| Anglican Church, Catholic Church, Methodist Church. |
| Nearby Services |
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| Garden Centre, Hospital, Park, Pub, Restaurant, Shops. |
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