Maple Cottage

This summary reflects the findings of the CQC inspection at Maple Cottage, conducted in November 2023. The report assesses the home's performance across five key areas: safety, effectiveness, caring, responsiveness, and leadership. Overall, the inspection highlighted areas for improvement while also noting positive aspects of care provided. Families can use this summary to understand the current state of the service and the inspector's observations.

On safety, while people were generally safeguarded from abuse and avoidable harm, there were significant concerns regarding fire safety arrangements, including inaccurate evacuation plans and insufficient fire drills. Additionally, hot water temperatures in the laundry area were not consistently maintained at a safe level, posing a potential risk. However, risk assessments for individual care needs were robust, and staff demonstrated awareness of how to manage them effectively.

Regarding effectiveness, the service is working towards ensuring staff have the necessary skills and training, including the Oliver McGowan mandatory training for learning disability and autism, and practical restraint training. While new staff receive a thorough induction and regular supervision, some essential refresher training was noted as out of date. Care plans and daily support were observed to align with people's needs, and residents were well supported with nutrition and healthcare appointments.

In terms of being caring, the inspection found that people received kind and compassionate care, with staff respecting their privacy and dignity. They understood and responded to individual needs, and staff were trained to recognise and report abuse. The service had sufficient staff to meet people's needs, and communication was well-supported. People were able to personalise their rooms and access community support, contributing to their independence.

Concerning responsiveness, the home demonstrated a commitment to supporting people's choices and independence, applying care in the least restrictive way possible. Staff worked to avoid restraints, and people could personalise their living spaces. Access to specialist health and social care in the community was facilitated, and staff supported people with their medication to optimise health outcomes.

Finally, on being well-led, the registered manager was found to have the necessary skills and understanding of resident needs. However, oversight at the provider level was noted as lacking. While the immediate team felt supported and valued, the provider did not consistently invest in staff training to meet all resident needs. Despite this, staff turnover was very low, promoting consistent and well-informed care from staff who knew the residents intimately.