CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Maple View
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, December 2023
Rated Inadequate and placed in special measures; inspectors found serious risks involving restraint, medicines, safeguarding, risk management and leadership.
This was an unannounced focused inspection carried out over four visits between 23 October and 2 November 2023. Inspectors observed care, spoke with relatives, the manager and staff, reviewed five care files and two staff files, and checked medicines, training, risks and quality monitoring.
Inspectors found people were not consistently protected from harm. There had been an incident of physical restraint without suitable care plan guidance, follow-up or learning. Staff training was not up to date. Risks involving chemicals, choking, medicines, fire safety, staffing and missing risk assessments were not managed properly.
The home was not following the Mental Capacity Act properly. Inspectors found an expired authorisation for deprivation of liberty, unclear capacity records and no mental capacity assessments for some restrictions. Nutritional support was also not effective for one person whose weight and unhealthy snacking had increased significantly.
The overall rating changed from Good at the previous inspection in 2019 to Inadequate. Safe and Well-led were rated Inadequate, while Effective Requires Improvement. The service was placed in special measures.
Infection control
Inspectors found that people were protected from infection and that staff used protective equipment safely.
“People were protected from the risk of infection as staff were following safe infection prevention and control practices.” from the report
Recruitment checks
The provider completed the recruitment checks inspectors reviewed before new staff started.
“The provider operated safe recruitment processes. Appropriate checks were completed before a new member of staff started working at the service.” from the report
Access to healthcare
People could access health professionals when needed, and hospital passports were in place.
“People had access to health professionals when required.” from the report
Personalised rooms
People's rooms were individually decorated with personal belongings and equipment important to them.
“Peoples' rooms were personalised and individually decorated with things important to them, for example TV's, gaming equipment, pictures, and photographs.” from the report
Restraint and safeguarding
seriousAn incident of physical restraint was not supported by suitable care plans, current training, follow-up or learning. Other safeguarding concerns had not been referred to the relevant authorities.
“People were not protected from avoidable harm or abuse.” from the report
Unmanaged risks
seriousInspectors found unsecured chemicals, incomplete risk assessments, an open front door despite an absconding risk, unsafe fire arrangements and weak monitoring of water safety.
“The providers arrangements to identify and mitigate risk were not effective.” from the report
Medicines
seriousSome as-required medicines lacked proper instructions, topical creams were not signed for, and audits failed to identify these problems.
“Systems and processes to administer medicines safely were not always clearly in place or followed.” from the report
Consent and restrictions
seriousThe home was not following the Mental Capacity Act. An authorisation had expired, and inspectors found no mental capacity assessments for some restrictions and supervision.
“We found the service was not working within the principles of the MCA.” from the report
Nutrition
seriousOne person's care records showed a large weight increase and frequent unhealthy snacks, without effective support or management of the related risks.
“People were not always supported to eat a healthy and balanced diet.” from the report
Leadership and monitoring
seriousThe provider's checks did not identify serious problems, and actions from meetings and feedback were not reliably followed up.
“The providers quality and assurance and governance arrangements at Maple View were not reliable or effective in identifying the shortfalls in the service.” from the report
- 01What has changed since the inspection to prevent unauthorised or unnecessary restraint, and have all staff completed practical restraint training?
- 02How are medicines, including as-required medicines and topical creams, now checked and recorded?
- 03Have all care plans and risk assessments been updated for choking, nutrition, catheter care, absconding, fire evacuation and physical restraint?
- 04What legal authorisations and mental capacity assessments are now in place for people subject to constant supervision or other restrictions?
- 05How are you checking that safeguarding incidents, staff conduct concerns and quality problems are reported, investigated and followed up?
This was a focused inspection of Safe, Effective and Well-led only; Caring and Responsive were not inspected and the overall rating used ratings from the previous inspection for the questions not inspected. 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, June 2021
Maple View was inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection prevention and control arrangements during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This was an unannounced, targeted inspection on 29 April 2021. It looked only at infection prevention and control measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Inspectors were assured that the home used PPE safely, arranged testing, followed visiting and social distancing guidance, and had plans to prevent or manage outbreaks. Cleaning had increased and there was enough PPE.
Staff supported people to keep in touch with family and stay active during lockdown. All staff had training in British Sign Language, which was used with pictures and symbols to communicate with people who were deaf.
The service was inspected but not rated. This does not give an overall judgement about the quality of care, and the other areas of care were not assessed in this inspection.
Accessible communication
Staff had training in British Sign Language and used it with pictures and symbols to communicate with people who were deaf.
“All staff had completed training in British sign language (BSL).” from the report
Testing and vaccination
The home arranged regular testing, gained consent before testing, and reported that everyone using the service had received both COVID-19 vaccines.
“Everybody using the service has now received both Covid-19 vaccines.” from the report
Infection control
Inspectors were assured that staff used PPE safely, cleaning had increased and arrangements were in place to reduce the spread of infection.
“Staff had received training on the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and infection control practices and processes were in place to minimise the spread of infection.” from the report
Family contact and activities
The home supported visits by two named family members within individual risk assessments. Staff also supported daily walks or car rides and provided activities at home during lockdown.
“The service adhered to government guidance and arrangements were in place for the safe facilitation of visiting by two named family members.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are you currently supporting communication for people who use British Sign Language, pictures or symbols?
- 02What testing, vaccination and infection control arrangements are in place now?
- 03How can family visits take place now, and what individual risk assessment is used?
- 04What activities and outdoor opportunities are currently available to residents?
- 05When was the home last assessed for the wider areas of care that were not covered by this inspection?
This was an unannounced targeted inspection of infection prevention and control measures only; the service was inspected but not rated and the other areas of care were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 8 June 2021 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 View
4 rated inspections over 8 years: the service has slipped, from Good to Inadequate.
- December 2023Inadequatecurrent ratingSafe: InadequateEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Inadequate
- June 2021Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- February 2019Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2018Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- October 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2014
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 14 July 2014.
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.
“Not only was she professional, polite and efficient but she bought a lovely smile and laughter to my parents home.”
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Every carer has had an enhanced DBS check in the last 18 months, ID and right-to-work checks and an online interview. Their skills and training are for you to check with them. Carers set their own rates, and who is free changes week to week.