Background to this inspection
Updated
17 December 2019
The inspection
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
Inspection team
The inspection was carried out by one inspector.
Service and service type
Benton Care Services is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
Notice of inspection
This inspection was unannounced.
What we did before inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with three people who used the service and six relatives about their experience of the care provided. We carried out observations of the interactions between staff and people using the service. We spoke with eight members of staff including the registered manager, the deputy manager, senior care workers and care workers.
We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and multiple medicines records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.
After the inspection
We contacted relatives by telephone to seek their views about the service. We spoke with three professionals who regularly visit the service.
Updated
17 December 2019
About the service
Benton Care Services is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care to 13 people at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 13 people. Accommodation is provided in three adjoining terraced houses.
The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
The service was exceptionally caring. Professionals and relatives repeatedly described the staff as excellent, fabulous or brilliant. People were extremely well-cared for by staff who took pride in ensuring people were well-dressed and supported to enjoy good relationships. Relatives had significant levels of trust in the service. Staff were motivated to work together and provide people with the best care.
Suitable arrangements were in place to keep people safe. People’s personal risks were well-managed and regular checks were carried out on the environment and the vehicles used by the service to make sure people were safe. The provider carried out pre-employment checks on staff. Medicines were administered in a safe manner. The registered manager and staff were open to learning lessons to improve the service.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service this practice.
People chose the meals they would like to eat. Specific diets were catered for including when people went out on picnics.
Care plans were very detailed and included people’s preferences and wishes. They were regularly reviewed. End-of-life plans were in place.
The service had a complaints procedure. Relatives told us they had never had to make a complaint or raise a concern. Not everyone could make a verbal complaint. Staff understood how people communicated and addressed their wishes if they expressed any dissatisfaction.
The registered manager and the staff worked in partnership with other professionals to meet people’s needs. Staff felt well-supported by the registered manager.
The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.
The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.
The registered manager had checks in place to measure the quality of the service. The staff had good working relationships with other professionals to support people’s care. People accessed community facilities.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was good (report published 6 June 2017).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.