Mapleton

Updated 5 April 2023

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by one inspector and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

Mapleton is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Mapleton is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations. At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced on the first day and announced on the second day.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 3 people who used the service and 7 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 8 members of staff including the providers representative, registered manager, deputy manager, team leaders, care staff and cook. We reviewed a range of records. This included 6 people's care records and medication records. We looked at 4 staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. We also reviewed a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures

Updated 5 April 2023

About the service

Mapleton is a residential care home providing personal care for to up to 20 people. The service provides support to older people, including people living with a diagnosis of dementia and people with a learning disability. At the time of our inspection there were 15 people using the service. Mapleton has secure accommodation over two floors. People living at the service long term live on the ground floor. The first floor has been developed to be used as a short stay assessment unit to support people, who may have complex needs, moving from hospital to a longer-term setting. Both floors have kitchen, lounge and dining space and access to outside space. Peoples' bedrooms are en-suite and all rooms have ceiling track hoists.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

The management team had addressed the concerns identified at the last inspection and were continuing to drive service improvement. They had created a culture which was person-centred, open, inclusive and empowering. A relative told us, “There were a few issues previously, but the management has changed completely since [family member] has been there and it seems well managed now. The staff seem happy. The home feels nice, homely and comfortable.”

There was a robust and effective quality assurance programme in place. People, relatives and staff were consulted and asked for their views. This enabled the provider and registered manager to identify issues and take prompt action to address them.

People felt safe living at Mapleton. They were supported by a stable and consistent staff team who knew them well. We saw kind and caring interactions during the inspection.

The provider and registered manager used a dependency tool to ensure there were sufficient numbers of staff deployed to meet the needs of the people at the service. Staff were recruited and selected safely.

New staff completed a thorough induction and received the training and supervision necessary to carry out their roles. There was a culture of continued learning and reflection. Staff told us, “If you make mistakes, they don’t come down on you like a ton of bricks. They ask what support you need to move forward. To reflect and learn from it.”

Risks to people's health and well-being were assessed and reviewed appropriately. There was clear guidance in place for staff to follow. Staff worked closely with a range of external health and social care professionals to meet people’s needs and help them work towards their goals.

Measures were in place to prevent the spread of infection, and safety checks on the environment were in place and robust. Medicines were safely managed. Incidents and accidents were appropriately recorded and analysed for patterns and trends. Safeguarding processes were in place to help protect people from abuse.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people. We considered this guidance as there were people using the service who have a learning disability and or who are autistic.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 27 June 2022) and there were breaches of regulation. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

At our last inspection we recommended the provider consider using a dependency tool to ensure staffing levels reflect peoples' level of care and support needs. At this inspection we found the provider had acted on this recommendation and made improvements to how staff were deployed.

Why we inspected

We carried out an unannounced focused inspection of this service on 19 May 2022. Breaches of legal requirements were found. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve their support of people in line with The Mental Capacity Act 2005, and governance.

We undertook this focused inspection to check they had followed their action plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to the Key Questions Safe, Effective and Well-led which contain those requirements. We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last comprehensive inspection to calculate the overall rating. The overall rating for the service has changed from requires improvement to good. This is based on the findings at this inspection.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Mapleton on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.