The Care Quality Commission
  • Care Home
  • Care home

Archived: Royal Mencap Society - 55-56 Benyon Grove

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Herlington, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, PE2 5GH (01733) 361313

Provided and run by:
Royal Mencap Society

All Inspections

9 March 2017

During a routine inspection

Royal Mencap Society 55-56 Benyon Grove is a residential care home for eight people who have learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorder. 55-56 Benyon Grove are two bungalows with a shared garden. At the time of our inspection seven people were living at the service.

At the last inspection, the service was rated Good. At this inspection on 9 March 2017 we found the service remained Good.

People were cared for by staff who provided care and support that ensured people's safety and welfare. People were cared for by staff who had been recruited and employed only after appropriate checks had been completed. People's needs were met by sufficient numbers of staff.

Medication was dispensed by staff who had received training and their competency had been checked.

People are supported to have as much choice and control of their lives as possible. Staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. People were cared for and supported by staff who had received appropriate training to support and meet people’s needs. People were supported to maintain a balanced diet with suitable food and fluid. People were referred to any health professionals when required.

People were cared for by staff who were kind and caring. Staff had a good understanding of people's preferences in areas of their care and welfare. People were supported to be as independent as 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 encouraged and supported to follow their interests and participate in social activities. The registered manager responded to and investigated complaints received.

There were systems in place to assess, monitor and improve the service and these were reviewed on a regular basis.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

21 October 2014

During a routine inspection

The last inspection was on 4 July 2013 where we found the provider was meeting the regulations.

This inspection took place on 21 October 2014 and was announced. The provider was given 24 hours’ notice because the location was a small care home for adults who are often out during the day; we needed to be sure that someone would be in.

Royal Mencap Society – 55-56 Benyon Grove is a residential home without nursing, which is managed by Royal Mencap Society. It is registered to provide accommodation, support and personal care for up to eight people who have a learning disability. There were six people living in the home when we visited.

There was a registered manager in place at the time of our inspection. 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

Relatives of people in the home were very happy with the staff and manager and said they were kept up to date about their family member’s health and welfare. They felt included in any meetings and that the staff listened to them and acted on any requests or comments for their family member.

People were kept safe because staff knew how to recognise and report abuse. Staff understood the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards and the impact for people in the home who could be subject to the Act. We saw information that best interest assessments had been completed for people who lacked capacity.

We saw that people had access to a wide variety of health professionals who were requested appropriately and who provided information and plans to maintain people’s health and wellbeing.

People’s relatives and staff told us they would be confident raising any concerns with the management and that action would be taken.

4 July 2013

During a routine inspection

People's rights to give consent to their support and care were respected. Where a person was not able to give this consent, there were legal systems in place to ensure that the person received support, care and medical treatment that they needed.

Although people that were spoken with were unable to verbally tell us about the experiences of living at the home, we saw that they were supported to maintain their health and wellbeing. This included support to access health care professionals; to engage in social activities of their choosing and to maintain and develop a level of independence with a variety of tasks.

People were provided with adequate amounts of food and drink to ensure that they were kept healthy. People were provided with opportunities to choose what they would like to eat and drink.

Equipment was provided and maintained to ensure that people's support, care and treatment needs were safely and appropriately met.

Members of staff told us that they enjoyed their work, which they found rewarding. There was a sufficient number of staff employed to meet people's individual support and care needs.

Records were maintained, and generally up-to-date. This demonstrated that the service was a safe place for people who used the service, visitors and staff.

30 July 2012

During a routine inspection

Due to people's complex communication abilities none of the people who we spoke with were able to directly tell us what it was like living at the service in a meaningful way. We therefore used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a specific way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.

During our SOFI and other general observations, we noted that people were showing signs of wellbeing. While people were supported in engaging in social activities we saw that they were smiling and laughing.

29 December 2011

During a routine inspection

People who use the service did not speak to us about the care and support they received however we observed interactions between people living in the home and the staff and noted that staff provided care and support in a friendly and respectful manner. We spoke with two relatives and they were positive about the care and support that is provided and were complimentary about the caring attitude of staff.