- Care home
Benson House Care Home
Assessment report published 16 February 2026
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
Date of Assessment: 31 October 2025 to 10 November 2025.Benson House Care Home is a residential and nursing home providing personal care to up to 70 older people, in a purpose built building over 3 floors. Some people were living with dementia. On the day of the inspection, 65 people were being supported by the service.
This inspection was prompted by concerns raised in relation to end of life care, medicine management and staffing. During the inspection we found evidence to support our concerns relating to the management of medicine.
We found two breaches of regulations in relation to good governance and safe care and treatment as medicines were not always managed well.
We were greeted warmly by the regional manager and staff, who were keen to demonstrate the improvements they had made to the service. The regional manager was running the home as the registered manager was on annual leave.
Some medicine records were not accurate or up to date. As required drugs [PRN] protocols were not completed consistently, and one drug had been administered routinely at a higher dosage without recording why. Monitoring and audit systems used to improve the service did not identify these concerns.
Care plans were clearly written, provided guidance and good examples of how people were supported to take part in day-to-day activities. Staff were aware how to identify and respond to changes in people’s needs. The service had initiatives in place to promote and support people with their health and wellbeing and routinely monitored people’s care and treatment. Documentation around capacity was completed appropriately.
Staff understood their responsibility to report concerns about safety. There were enough safely recruited and trained staff to carry out safe care. However, some staff told us there were not enough staff, particularly on the dementia floor. The environment met people’s needs and staff managed the risk of infection. The home was clean and free from malodours.
Personalised care was planned through discussions with people and their relatives. The service worked effectively with external agencies and professionals to ensure people’s needs were met in a planned and timely manner.
Leaders were passionate about delivering high quality care. Regular meetings were held with staff, including supervision, handovers, and daily briefings. Staff consistently told us how they felt supported in their roles.
We observed compassionate and kind care throughout our visit. Staff told us they enjoyed working at the home and understood the importance of providing care in a person-centred way. The service had built links with community services and healthcare services such as GP’s, physiotherapists, dentists, podiatrist, and opticians.
People's experience of this service
People received good standards of care from staff who knew and understood their needs. People and their relative’s felt people were safe, and staff were caring and kind. One person said, “This place has given me my life back.” Another person told us, “The carers [staff] are brilliant, I really enjoy spending time with them, they are really caring and look after me.”
People felt staff listened to them and were responsive at providing care and meeting their needs. The provider offered a wide choice of activities and initiatives which included, films, music, exercise, and community visits. People were involved in their care planning, and relatives felt they were informed about their loved ones.