Benedict’s is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Benedict's provides 24 hour nursing care and support for up to 16 people with complex learning disability needs. The service provides long term care in addition to respite care. It is situated in a quiet residential area close to the centre of Wetherby.

At the last inspection, in September 2015, the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the service remained Good.There was a registered manager in post. 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.

People continued to receive care which protected them from avoidable harm and abuse. Staff met people's needs in a safe way and were available when people needed and wanted support. Systems for managing medicines safely were not always fully effective. However, the registered manager responded swiftly and took action to make sure appropriate arrangements were put in place to ensure safe medicines management.

People received care and support that was effective in meeting their needs. Staff had received training and support which gave them the skills and knowledge to meet people's individual needs. 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. Staff respected people's right to consent to and make their own decisions about their care and treatment.

People were treated with kindness and compassion by staff that knew them very well. Staff respected people's privacy, treated them with dignity and encouraged them to be as independent as they could be.

Staff responded to changes in people's needs which helped to ensure they got the care they needed. People were supported to spend their time how they wanted to and were encouraged to maintain their social interests within the local community. People and their relatives felt they could raise a concern and the provider had systems to manage any complaints that they may receive.

The provider had systems in place that continued to be effective in assessing and monitoring the quality of the service provided. The registered manager showed a commitment to running a well led service for the benefit of the people who used the service.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

The home supported people with a wide range of complex needs. We therefore used a number of different methods to help us understand the experiences of people who used the service, including observing the care being delivered, talking with staff and looking at records in the home.

During our visit, we saw staff interacting with people in a positive, respectful and caring manner. People experienced care, treatment and support that met their needs and protected their rights.

People appeared relaxed and comfortable in the presence of staff. We observed staff treating people kindly with regard to their dignity and privacy.

One person who used the service told us, “Everything’s fine, I Iike it here.” Another person who was staying for respite care said, “Can I stay here? I want to live here, don’t want to go home”

We spoke with two relatives during our visit and both told us they were happy with the care their relative received. One relative told us, "I do feel the care is very good here. I turn up whenever I like and all the residents are always nicely dressed and looked after well.”

There were effective systems in place to manage and reduce the risk of infection.

The service had effective recruitment and selection processes in place. Appropriate checks were made before people were employed by the service.

There were appropriate policies in place to effectively manage and respond to complaints or suggestions people made.

The service cares for and supports people with a wide range of complex needs. They were not all able to verbally tell us their experiences. We therefore used a number of different methods to help us understand the experiences of people who used the service, including observing the care being delivered, talking with staff and looking at records in the home.

We could communicate verbally with some people who used the service to find out their views and experiences. They said they were happy at the home and liked living there. They smiled, laughed, nodded and answered ‘yes’ when we asked if they liked the home and the staff who supported them. We saw that people who used the service were comfortable with staff and had good interaction with them. It was clear that staff knew the people they were supporting very well. Staff showed a good understanding of people’s communication needs.

One person’s relative told us how pleased they were with the care provided at the home. They said, “I have been so impressed at the care, compassion, respect and dignity shown by the excellent staff.”

We saw that care practices were good. Staff were kind, considerate and supportive to people, they treated people as individuals. Staff gave good examples of how people were treated with dignity and respect. They said it was important to ensure people’s privacy and that people were given time to enable them to make choices. We saw that people were happy and comfortable with staff in their interaction with them. There was positive interaction and good eye contact.

Staff said that on the whole they had enough staff to meet people’s needs properly. They said they did not feel rushed and had enough time to make sure people got what they needed. However, all staff we spoke with said they did not have enough staff to make sure people got out of the home enough and enjoyed community based activities. Staff also said they did not always have enough staff on night duty to cover emergencies such as taking people to hospital.

Staff said they had a good team who worked well together. They said the home was well managed and the manager worked alongside them to ensure high standards. They said the manager was supportive.

This was an unannounced inspection carried out on the 24 September 2015. At the last inspection in June 2013 we found the provider met the regulations we looked at.

Benedict’s provides 24 hour nursing care and support for up to16 people with complex learning disability needs. The service provides long term care in addition to respite care. It is situated in a quiet residential area close to the centre of Wetherby.

There was a registered manager in post. 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.

People told us they felt safe. Staff had a good understanding of safeguarding vulnerable adults and knew what to do to keep people safe.

People were overall protected against the risks associated with medicines because the provider had appropriate arrangements in place to manage medicines safely. We did however suggest some systems for storage and administration could be improved.

There were enough staff to keep people safe and staff training and support provided staff with the knowledge and skills to support people safely. Robust recruitment and selection procedures were in place to make sure suitable staff worked with people who used the service and staff completed an induction when they started work.

People were happy living at the home and felt well cared for. People’s support plans contained sufficient and relevant information to provide consistent, care and support. Health, care and support needs were assessed and met by regular contact with health professionals. People were supported by staff who treated them with kindness and were respectful of their privacy and dignity.

Staff were trained in the principles of the Mental Capacity Act (2005), and could describe how people were supported to make decisions to enhance their capacity and where people did not have the capacity; decisions were made in their best interests.

People participated in a range of activities both in the home and in the community and were able to choose where they spent their time. People had a good experience at mealtimes and said they enjoyed the food at the home.

Staff were aware of how to support people to raise concerns and complaints and there were effective systems in place to assess and monitor the quality of the service.