Eurovision BBQ: bringing our Kettonby community together
An afternoon of good food, great company and Eurovision spirit, where families met each other for the first time.
Read the story →About us
Our story
Welcome to Kettonby Care.
Kettonby Care has grown from a simple belief: that everyone deserves to live in a place that feels like home.
Our story began more than twenty years ago when our founder, Mark Aplin, established Lavender Group Homes, providing residential care for children with learning disabilities. Over the years, the organisation developed a strong reputation for delivering high-quality, person-centred support.
As the children we supported grew into adults, it became clear that their needs, aspirations and ambitions were changing. They were moving into a new stage of their lives, and our service needed to evolve alongside them.
In response, Kettonby Care Limited was established in 2016 to provide residential care and supported living for adults with learning disabilities and autism in Kettering, Northamptonshire.
Today, we continue to build on the foundations that have always been at the heart of our organisation: respect, dignity, choice, independence and genuine care for the people we support.
Many of the individuals who live with us today have known us for many years, and we have been fortunate to support them throughout important stages of their lives. This long-standing relationship has allowed us to develop a deep understanding of each person, including their strengths, preferences, personalities and aspirations.
Our homes are located together at Kettonby Gardens in Kettering, creating a close-knit community while still allowing every individual to enjoy the privacy, independence and personalisation that comes with having a home of their own.
Proud to be rated “Good” by the Care Quality Commission, we remain committed to delivering high-quality care, supporting people to achieve their goals and enjoying life to the fullest.
Our story is not just about where we have come from. It is about the people who make Kettonby their home.
With decades of experience in adult social care, Mark has dedicated much of his professional life to developing and delivering care services across Kettering and the surrounding area. Throughout his career, Mark has owned and operated a number of care homes, gaining extensive experience and developing a deep understanding of what makes a real difference to people's lives.
As the founder of Kettonby Care, Mark's vision has always been to create more than just a care service. He believes in providing genuine homes where people feel safe, valued and understood, with support that is tailored to their individual needs, wishes and aspirations.
For Mark, quality care is about looking at the whole person. It means recognising that everyone is an individual, with their own personality, interests, abilities and aspirations. It is about creating the right environment and providing the right support to enable people to live fulfilling lives, develop their independence and achieve their potential.
The organisation may have grown and evolved over the years, but the principles on which Mark founded it remain unchanged. His experience, vision and commitment to quality care continue to be an important part of what makes Kettonby Care what it is today.
More than care
A person-centred approach
At Kettonby Care, we believe that care is about much more than meeting someone’s needs. It is about supporting people to live happy, fulfilling lives in a place they are proud to call home.
Every person we support is an individual, with their own personality, preferences, strengths, interests and aspirations. Our role is to get to know each person, understand what matters to them and provide the right support to help them achieve their goals.
Supporting choice and independence
We believe that people should have choice and control over their own lives. Whether it is deciding what to eat, how to spend their day, who to spend time with or what goals to work towards, we support people to make decisions that are right for them. Our role is to enable, encourage and empower, not to take control.
Building meaningful relationships
Relationships are at the heart of everything we do. We take the time to get to know the people we support, understanding their personalities, interests, preferences and what matters most to them. Strong, trusting relationships help us provide support that is personal, thoughtful and tailored to each individual. We also encourage and support people to maintain relationships with family, friends and the wider community.
A home, not just a place to live
Everyone has the right to feel comfortable, safe and valued in their own home. Our homes are designed to feel welcoming, warm and personal, giving people the freedom to make their space their own. From personalising bedrooms to taking part in daily household activities, we encourage people to feel at home and take pride in the place they live.
Supporting the whole person
We support people to lead full and meaningful lives. As well as providing day-to-day care and support, we encourage individuals to develop new skills, pursue their interests, try new experiences and work towards their personal goals, whether that is learning to cook a favourite meal, going on holiday, joining a local activity or building confidence in everyday life.
Our commitment
We are committed to treating everyone with dignity and respect, listening to what people tell us and continually reflecting on how we can improve. Above all, we want everyone we support to feel safe, supported, valued and able to live life on their own terms.
Our homes
Two ways of living, one commitment to exceptional care
At Kettonby Care, we provide two different living environments, giving people the opportunity to live in the setting that best suits their needs, independence and personal goals.
Kettonby House: residential care
Our main detached residential home provides accommodation for four individuals. Each person has their own bedroom with en-suite facilities, along with access to comfortable shared living spaces, a sensory room, a large garden and everything needed to feel at home. Waking night support is shared across the home.
Each person receives dedicated one-to-one support throughout the day, reflecting their individual assessed needs, with the aim of enabling them to live as independently as possible while having the reassurance of support whenever it is needed.
We understand that eating well is an important part of everyday life. Our menu runs on a four-week rolling cycle, with a wide variety of meals to choose from and options for individual preferences, dietary requirements and personal choices.
Explore Kettonby House →Supported Living
Opened in January 2020, our supported living bungalows offer a more independent living environment for people who want greater freedom while still having support available around the clock.
Each bungalow is a self-contained home, designed to provide privacy, independence and the opportunity for people to make their space truly their own. Support is personalised and flexible, helping each person develop their independence, build confidence and achieve their individual goals while still being part of the wider Kettonby community.
Four people live in Supported Living. Everyone receives 24-hour support, and every person receives one-to-one support.
Explore Supported Living →Kettonby House rated Good (December 2024). Supported Living rated Good (January 2022). Read our CQC ratings.
News
Life at Kettonby
Taking to the skies: a summer adventure at Milton Keynes
People from both our homes came together for an indoor skydiving day out.
Read the story →
Saddle up: discovering the joy of horse riding
How one person's love of horse riding led to someone else finding a new passion.
Read the story →Talk to us
Call, message or write. We are glad to answer questions from families, professionals and the people we support.