Bennethorpe House is registered to accommodate a maximum number of two people with a learning disability and autistic spectrum disorder. The property is within walking distance of the Doncaster town centre and many local amenities including transportation links. There were two people using the service at the time of inspection.

At the last inspection in February 2015, the service was rated 'Good'. At this inspection we found the service remained 'Good'.

Staff understood the procedure they needed to follow if they suspected abuse might be taking place. Risks to people were identified and plans were put in place to help manage the risk and minimise them occurring. Medicines were managed safely with an effective system in place. Staff competencies, around administering medication, were regularly checked. Appropriate checks of the building and maintenance systems were undertaken to ensure health and safety was maintained.

Staff received training to ensure that they had the necessary skills to care for and support the people who lived at the home. Staff were kind, caring and protected people's dignity. They treated people with respect and supported them in a way that allowed them to be as independent as possible. People were supported to have choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible.

People and their relatives were involved in the planning and review of their care. Care plans were reviewed on a regular basis and also when there was a change in care needs. People were supported to follow their interests and participate in social activities.

The service was well-led. The service had systems in place to monitor and provide good care and these were reviewed on a regular basis. The service also had a clear process for handling complaints.

We inspected Bennethorpe House on 25 February 2015. The inspection was unannounced. Bennethorpe House was last inspected in July 2013, no concerns were identified at that inspection. 

Bennethorpe House provides

accommodation and personal care for up to two people with learning disabilities and autistic spectrum disorders. On the day of the inspection two people were receiving care services from the provider. 

The home had a registered manager.

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.

During our inspection we spoke with two people who used the service. We also spoke with one member of care staff, one visiting healthcare professional, the nominated individual and the registered manager.

During our visit to the service we looked at the care records for two people and looked at records that related to how the service was managed.

People who used this service were safe. The care staff knew how to identify if a person may be at risk of harm and the action to take if they had concerns about a person’s safety.

One person said, “I always feel safe here.”

The care staff knew the people they were supporting and the choices they had made about their care and their lives. People who used the service, and those who were important to them, were included in planning and agreeing to the care provided. 

The decisions people made were respected. People were supported to maintain their independence and control over their lives. People received care from a team of staff who they

knew and who knew them. 

People were treated with kindness and respect.

A person who used the service said, “The staff are smashing.” 

The registered manager used safe recruitment systems to ensure that new staff were only employed if they were suitable to work at Bennethorpe House. The staff employed by the service were aware of their responsibility to protect people from harm or abuse. They told us they would be confident reporting any concerns to a senior person in the service or to the local authority or CQC.

There were sufficient staff, with appropriate experience, training and skills to meet people’s needs. The service was well managed and took appropriate action if expected standards were not

met. This ensured people received a safe service that promoted their rights and independence. 

Staff were well supported through a system of induction, training, supervision, appraisal and professional development. There was a positive culture within the service which was

demonstrated by the attitudes of staff when we spoke with them and their approach to supporting people to maintain their independence.

The service was well-led.

There was a comprehensive, formal quality assurance process in place. This meant that the service was formally monitored to ensure good care was provided and planned improvements and changes could be implemented in a timely manner. 

There were good systems in place for care staff or others to raise any concerns with the registered manager. 

During our inspection we spoke with two people who used the service. Where people's communication was limited we observed how staff interacted with them. People told us they were well looked after. We observed they appeared to be happy and relaxed at the home.

We saw evidence people were involved in decisions about their care and treatment. We found information recorded in the care plans relating to people's personal preferences and choices.

Care and treatment was planned and delivered in a way that was intended to ensure people's safety and welfare. People were supported in taking risks as part of an independent lifestyle, therefore risk assessments were in place to minimise any identified risks or hazards.

People were protected from the risks of inadequate nutrition and dehydration. People were provided with a choice of suitable and nutritious food and drink. People we spoke with told us they had a variety of food choices and they enjoyed the food provided.

There were effective systems in place to reduce the risk and spread of infection. We looked around the home. We found it was clean, tidy and free from odours.

People were cared for, or supported by, suitably qualified, skilled and experienced staff. Throughout our inspection we observed good interactions and found people who used the service were relaxed and happy in the care of the staff.

There was an effective complaints system available. Comments and complaints people made were responded to appropriately.

We spoke with the two people who used the service. Both expressed they were happy in the home and were looked after well by staff. One person told us the staff were kind and provided them with choice. They told us: "It's brilliant; I get a choice of food and go to football and town."

The people who used the service told us they felt safe and any problems they had staff would act on quickly.

People who lived at the house said they liked their home. The professionals who came into contact with the people living at the home told us that it was one of the nicest places they had come across. They told us that the people had come out from long stay in hospitals and blossomed in the community.