25 and 28 September 2015
During a routine inspection
This inspection took place over two days on 25 and 28 September 2015 and was unannounced.
Maple Way provides accommodation and personal care for up to two people who have learning disabilities. The people living in the home had complex needs and sometimes demonstrated behaviour which staff may find challenging. At the time of our inspection there was one person living in the home. One person was in hospital supported by staff from the home. The home is located in a residential area in Headley Down, approximately four miles from the centre of Liphook. The home is semi detached and has a small garden.
Maple Way did not have a registered manager in post at the time of the inspection. The previous registered manager left in March 2015 and a new manager had been recently recruited but was not yet registered. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
Staff had received safeguarding training. They understood how to recognise the signs of abuse and knew how to report their concerns if they had any. There was a safeguarding policy in place and relevant telephone numbers were available.
Risks had been appropriately identified and addressed both in relation to people’s specific needs and in relation to the service as a whole. Staff were aware of people’s individual risk assessments and knew how to mitigate the risks. There was constant monitoring and reassessment of risks which ensured that staff took actions to protect people.
There were enough staff on duty at all times to meet people’s needs as staff were rostered in accordance with people’s assessed needs.
Medicines were administered safely by staff who had been trained and were competent to do so. There were procedures in place to ensure the safe handling and administration of medication. Staff knew how to administer emergency medicines for people.
People were asked for their consent before care or support was provided and where people did not have the capacity to consent, the provider acted in accordance with the legal requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. People’s mental capacity was assessed and decisions were made in their best interests, involving the relevant people.
The service worked well with health professionals to ensure the best and most effective care was provided for people. A psychiatrist and learning disability nurse had worked with the service.
People’s relatives were happy with the care. Staff knew how to meet people’s needs and this showed through their caring actions and their interactions with people using the service. People behaved in a way which showed they felt comfortable with staff. Independence was encouraged whenever possible and people responded positively to this.
Support plans were reviewed on a monthly basis and people were involved in these reviews through keyworker meetings and through staff observation of their behaviour when carrying out activities. Relatives and professionals were involved in regular reviews. Support plans were regularly updated with key information about people’s support and their individual preferences.
There was no registered manager at the time of the inspection. A manager had been recently recruited who was yet to registered with CQC.
A robust system of quality assurance ensured the continuity of the level of service.