The Maples

Updated 17 March 2020

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 Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

This inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

This service provides care and support to people living in specialist ‘extra care’ housing. Extra care housing is purpose-built or adapted single household accommodation in a shared site or building. The accommodation is rented and is the occupant’s own home. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for extra care housing; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support service.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

Inspection activity started and ended on 18 February 2020 when we visited the office location on this date.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with three people who used the service and one relative about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with seven members of staff including the registered manager, the chaplain, an administration assistant, two care and support workers, the activities co-ordinator and a maintenance person.

We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and a medicine record. We looked at a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including the whistle-blowing policy and the statement of purpose.

Updated 17 March 2020

About the service

The Maples is an extra care housing scheme providing the regulated activity of personal care to people living in individual extra care housing flats in Peterborough. Each person's flat is either a studio flat or has a kitchen, lounge, bedroom[s] and an en-suite shower. Communal lounges, bathrooms, dining facilities and a secure garden were also provided. The service was providing personal care to 12 people at the time of the inspection.

Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive the regulated activity of personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also consider any wider social care provided.

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

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.

Staff understood their duty to report any incidents of poor care or harm in line with the provider’s whistle-blowing policy. Risk assessments were in place to help staff monitor people’s identified risks without removing people’s independence. Staff worked in conjunction with best practice guidance, legislation and information from external health professionals across different organisations to help promote people's well-being.

Staffing levels were looked at to make sure they were satisfactory to meet the needs of the people using the service. Medicines were safely managed. Staff knew the people they supported well. To develop their skills and knowledge staff received training, competency checks, supervisions and appraisals. Staff were enabled to develop their skills through taking further qualifications.

Staff supported people to maintain their independence. Staff encouraged people's food and drink intake. There was a bistro on-site run by the provider that offered people hot lunches should they wish. Staff promoted and maintained people's privacy and dignity. Trained staff followed infection control practices to reduce the risk of contamination. Staff had a good relationship with people and understood their individual needs and preferences.

People and a relative told us staff were kind and caring. People`s personal information was kept

confidential. People and a relative told us they were involved in discussions about their, their family members care and that their preferences were respected. Staff were trained on end of life care.

People told us if they had to raise any concerns they knew how to do so. Staff had positive comments about how approachable the registered manager was, and this made them feel supported. Audits including organisational audits were carried out to monitor the service and address any improvements required. The registered manager notified the CQC of incidents that they were legally obliged to.

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

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was good (published 30 August 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.