CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Maple Manor
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, December 2023
Rated Requires Improvement; inspectors found kind, consistent care but weaknesses in fire safety, staff training and provider oversight.
This was an unannounced focused inspection. Inspectors visited on four dates, spoke with people, staff and relatives, reviewed care and staff records, and checked medicines, risks, training and quality checks.
People were treated kindly and respectfully. Staff understood people's communication needs, supported choice and independence, and helped people access healthcare and community activities. Staffing levels, medicines, infection control and recruitment were found to be suitable.
The main problems were fire safety arrangements, gaps in staff training and weak oversight by the provider. The service was rated Requires Improvement for Safe, Effective and Well-led. The previous overall rating was Good, published in September 2018.
Kind and respectful care
People received compassionate care. Staff protected privacy and dignity and supported people in a way that respected their choices and independence.
“People received kind and compassionate care. Staff protected and respected people's privacy and dignity.” from the report
Suitable staffing
Inspectors found enough staff to meet people's needs and support activities both at home and in the community. Relatives also said staffing was reliable.
“The provider ensured there were sufficient numbers of suitable staff available to meet people's needs.” from the report
Medicines handled safely
Medicine records were accurate and staff gave medicines as prescribed. Checks were in place to reduce the risk of inappropriate over-medication.
“Accurate medicine records were maintained, and Medication Administration Records [MAR] demonstrated people received their medicines as they should” from the report
Good communication
Staff understood how people communicated, including through pictures, symbols, signs and other individual methods. Relatives said communication with the service was good.
“Relatives told us communication with the service was good.” from the report
Fire evacuation risks
seriousThere were not enough trained fire marshals on every shift. Emergency evacuation plans did not fully explain some people's distress behaviours, medicines and reduced staffing at night. This was a breach of Regulation 12.
“This placed people at potential risk of harm. This was a breach of Regulation 12 [Safe care and treatment]” from the report
Incomplete staff training
needs fixingSome required training was missing or overdue. This included Oliver McGowan learning disability and autism training, practical physical restraint training and checks of competency for emergency seizure medicines.
“The provider did not always make sure staff had the skills, knowledge, and experience to deliver effective care and support.” from the report
Weak provider oversight
seriousThe provider did not identify or deal with problems quickly enough. Actions from provider meetings and external recommendations were not routinely followed up. This was a breach of Regulation 17.
“The provider did not have sufficient oversight of what was happening at the service.” from the report
Incomplete best-interest records
minorWhere decisions were made in people's best interests, records did not say who had been involved or consulted. The manager said improvements would be made.
“Information relating to who had been involved and consulted in the decision-making process was not recorded.” from the report
- 01How many trained fire marshals are now available on every shift, including at night?
- 02Have every person's Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan been updated to cover distress behaviours, sedative medicines and night-time staffing?
- 03Which staff have completed the required learning disability and autism training and practical physical restraint training?
- 04How are staff competency checks for emergency seizure medicines carried out and recorded?
- 05What action has the provider taken to improve oversight, follow up actions and give the registered manager regular supervision?
This was a focused inspection of Safe, Effective and Well-led; Caring and Responsive were not inspected and their ratings were carried over from the previous comprehensive inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 29 December 2023 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
What inspectors found, November 2019
Maple Manor was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with further work needed on end-of-life planning.
This was an unannounced inspection on 12 November 2019. One inspector observed care, spoke with the manager and staff, reviewed care and recruitment records, checked medicines and looked at quality and safety audits.
The home supported five people with learning disabilities and or autistic spectrum disorder. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines management, personalised risk assessments and suitable staff training. People were supported with health care, food, communication, activities and independence.
Inspectors found staff knew people well and treated them with dignity and respect. The home supported choice, family contact and community involvement. The only improvement recommendation was to do more work on people's wishes if there was a sudden death or a need for palliative care.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. The previous inspection was also rated Good, published on 26 May 2017.
Safe staffing and medicines
There was a stable staff team and enough staff to provide the one-to-one support people needed. Medicines were ordered, stored and administered safely, with staff checks in place.
“There continued to be enough staff to meet people's needs. In accordance with people's assessed needs, staff were deployed to ensure personalised, one to one care and support.” from the report
Personalised support
Support was planned around people's choices, goals and independence. Care plans were regularly reviewed and included opportunities to build life skills.
“Care support was regularly reviewed and planned with a strong focus on supporting people's independence, so each person had goals to aspire to and improve their quality of life.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff understood people's individual communication needs and treated them as individuals. Inspectors saw people being supported with dignity and respect.
“Staff spoke kindly and passionately about providing high standards of care. We observed staff support people as individuals and respected their individual needs and choices.” from the report
Community and relationships
People were supported to follow hobbies, volunteer, develop skills and keep in touch with family and friends. Activities were based on what people wanted to do.
“People lead fulfilling and active lives and were supported to engage as full citizens within the local and wider community.” from the report
End-of-life planning
needs fixingInspectors recommended more work to understand people's wishes after a sudden death or if palliative care became necessary. Nobody was receiving end-of-life care at the time, and all the people living there were young.
“We recommend further work be carried out to ascertain people's needs and wishes in the event of sudden death or should there be a need for palliative care support.” from the report
- 01What further work has been done to record each person's wishes after a sudden death or if palliative care is needed?
- 02How do you make sure my relative's communication tools and preferences are used consistently by all staff?
- 03How will you support my relative to build independence and take part in activities or community opportunities?
- 04How are risks linked to distressed behaviour reviewed, and what guidance do staff follow to keep people safe?
- 05How are medicines, including medicines prescribed to be taken as required, checked and reviewed?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five CQC questions, including both the care provided and the care home premises. This explanation was written from the published report of 29 November 2019 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
Every inspection of Maple Manor
4 rated inspections over 9 years: the service has slipped, from Good to Requires improvement.
- December 2023Requires improvementcurrent ratingdown from GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- November 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 6 June 2011.
Ratings and report dates from the Care Quality Commission, Open Government Licence v3.0. A home can also be visited without a new rating being published, so the timeline shows published inspections.
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35 live-in carers within about an hour of Essex
These are self-employed carers on PrimeCarers, the introductory agency that runs this directory. Each has a profile with their own rates and reviews from families, and you choose who to talk to.
Most charge £1,020 to £1,260 a week. 25 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
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