This inspection took place on 4 June 2018 and was unannounced. This means prior to the inspection people were not aware we were inspecting the service on that day.

Stenson Court 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. Stenson Court is situated in the Cantley area of Doncaster. On the day of our inspection there were 32 people living in the home.

There was no registered manager in place for the service. The home had a manager who was in the process of registering with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). A registered manager is a person who has registered with CQC 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.

Our last inspection at Stenson Court took place on 9 March 2016. At our last inspection we rated the service good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and on-going monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the 'all reports' link for ‘Stenson Court’ on our website at www.cqc.org.uk’

People who used the service told us they felt safe living in the home. Their relatives spoke positively about the standard of care and support their family member received. Healthcare professionals told us they had no concerns about this service.

People received their medicines at the right time and in the right way to meet their needs. Healthcare professionals, such as chiropodists, opticians, GPs and dentists were involved in people's care when necessary.

Staff employed at the home had been recruited in a way that helped to keep people safe because thorough checks were completed prior to them being offered a post.

There were clear systems of assessment in place and staff received appropriate training, supervision and appraisal to deliver effective care.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. People received the right support to eat and drink and staff monitored people's nutrition and took action when there were concerns.

The relationships between people who used the service and staff were warm and friendly. The atmosphere in the home was calm and relaxed. People's privacy, dignity and independence was maintained by staff that were caring and respectful.

People had their needs and choices assessed prior to admission to Stenson Court and this information had been used to create person centred care plans that recognised people's diversity and lifestyle choices.

There was a programme of social activity available to people, which they thoroughly enjoyed. People knew how to make a complaint if they were unhappy.

The home was well led by an experienced manager and management team. The registered provider had systems in place to monitor the quality of the service, seek people's views and make on-going improvements.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

The inspection took place on 9 March 2016 and was unannounced. This was the first inspection of the service following the Care Quality Commission registration in September 2015. The service was previously registered under another provider.

The service has a registered manager who has been registered with the Care Quality Commission since January 2011. 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.

Stenson Court is a care home situated in Balby, Doncaster which is registered to accommodate up to 30 people. The service is provided by Runwood Homes Limited. At the time of the inspection the home was providing residential care for 24 people, some of whom had been diagnosed with dementia.

The requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 were in place to protect people who may not have the capacity to make decisions for themselves. The Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) sets out what must be done to make sure that the human rights of people who may lack mental capacity to make decisions are protected, including balancing autonomy and protection in relation to consent or refusal of care or treatment.

Staff knew how to recognise and respond to abuse correctly. They had a clear understanding of the procedures in place to safeguard vulnerable people from abuse.

People’s physical health was monitored as required. This included the monitoring of people’s health conditions and symptoms so appropriate referrals to health professionals could be made.

There were sufficient staff with the right skills and competencies to meet the assessed needs of people living in the home. Staff told us they felt supported by the registered manager and provider. Yearly appraisals had not been completed but were scheduled to take place in the next three months.

Staff were aware of people’s nutritional needs and made sure they supported people to have a healthy diet, with choices of a good variety of food and drink. People we spoke with told us they enjoyed the meals and there was always something on the menu they liked.

People were able to access some activities although there was no dedicated activity co-ordinator. People told us they had enjoyed ‘Mother’s day’ with parties and involvement from the local community. We saw people enjoying each other’s company sitting and chatting in the café area.

There was a strong and visible person centred culture in the service. (Person centred means that care is tailored to meet the needs and aspirations of each individual.) We found the service had a friendly relaxed atmosphere which felt homely. Staff approached people in a kind and caring way which encouraged people to express how and when they needed support. Everyone we spoke with told us that they felt that the staff knew them and their likes and dislikes.

Staff told us they felt supported and they could raise any concerns with the registered manager and felt that they were listened to. People told us they were aware of the complaints procedure and said staff would assist them if they needed to use it.

There were effective systems in place to monitor and improve the quality of the service provided. We saw copies of reports produced by the registered manager and the provider. The reports included any actions required and these were checked each month to determine progress.