CQC takes further action to keep people safe at care homes run by Maple Health UK Limited

Published: 29 December 2023 Page last updated: 29 December 2023

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has downgraded the ratings for four Colchester care homes run by Maple Health UK Limited, following inspections in October and November.

Maple View, Maple Lodge, Maple Manor, and Maple Cottage all provide personal care for up to five autistic people and people with learning disabilities. All four care homes are registered separately but located on the same cul-de-sac.

A fifth sister service on this cul-de-sac, Maple House, was rated inadequate by CQC in November. The inspections of Maple View, Maple Lodge, Maple Manor, and Maple Cottage were prompted in part by concerns around the use of unauthorised physical restraint found at Maple House.

Following these inspections, the overall ratings for Maple View and Maple Lodge have dropped from good to inadequate. Their rating has also dropped from good to inadequate for safe and well-led. Their rating has dropped from good to requires improvement for effective. Caring and responsive were not assessed at this inspection, so both retain their previous ratings of good.

The overall ratings for Maple Manor and Maple Cottage have dropped from good to requires improvement. Their rating has also dropped from good to requires improvement for safe, well-led, and effective. Caring and responsive were not assessed at this inspection, so both retain their previous ratings of good.

CQC has now placed Maple View and Maple Lodge into special measures, which means they will be kept under close review by CQC.

CQC has also issued the provider two warning notices in relation to their oversight of Maple View and Maple Lodge, to focus their attention on making immediate improvements.

Rebecca Bauers, CQC's director for people with a learning disability and autistic people, said:

"When we inspected these care homes, it was deeply concerning to find people had been disproportionately and unsafely restrained at Maple View and Maple Lodge. While we didn't find issues with restraint at Maple Manor and Maple Cottage, we saw the provider lacked oversight of people's care at all four homes.

"Inspectors found the provider hadn't booked appropriate training for staff to support people in the the least restrictive way, to ensure people's safety, until CQC raised concerns at a sister service in October.

"Where people had been restrained unsafely or unlawfully at Maple View and Maple Lodge, we found the provider hadn't always learned lessons to keep people safe in future and hadn't always reported these incidents to the local authority's safeguarding team or CQC as legally required. Staff at both homes didn't always understand the Mental Capacity Act, risking violations of people's human rights.

"At the time of inspection, the provider had booked staff training in all their homes on how and when physical interventions may be used safely and in people's individual best interests, to be completed by December. The provider was also working with the local authority to address our concerns.

"We've used our enforcement powers and issued warning notices for Maple View and Lodge to highlight areas needing significant and immediate improvement.

"We'll continue to closely monitor all four homes, including through further inspections, to make sure people are receiving the safe care they deserve, and won't hesitate to take further action if needed."

Inspectors also found:

At Maple View:

  • One person's Deprivation of Liberty Safeguarding order had expired, meaning they were being restricted unlawfully. Following our inspection, the provider submitted an application for a new Deprivation of Liberty Safeguarding order.
  • People's care plans weren't always updated promptly to reflect their current needs or risks.
  • Staff didn't always know how to meet the individual needs of autistic people and people with learning disabilities.
  • The provider didn't always support staff with essential training such as first aid and fire safety.
  • The registered manager blamed a breakdown in the relationship between day and night staff for many problems in the home, but didn't explain how they planned to fix this.

At Maple Lodge:

  • The provider had begun refurbishments in the home, which were ongoing at the time of the inspection. However, inspectors found issues such as soiled furniture and a cracked bath, which still needed urgent attention to make sure people were protected from risks of infection and their care was dignified.
  • People's care plans weren't always updated promptly to reflect their current needs or risks.
  • The provider didn't always support staff with essential training on how best to support autistic people and people with learning disabilities.

At Maple Manor:

  • The provider lacked oversight of the home, meaning they couldn't identify issues or drive improvements. Oversight by the home's registered manager was effective however.
  • The provider didn't always support staff with essential training, such as first aid and how best to support autistic people and people with learning disabilities.

However:

  • There was a positive and open culture for all people in the home.
  • People were cared for by compassionate staff, who understood and responded to their needs.

At Maple Cottage:

  • The provider lacked oversight of the home, meaning they couldn't identify issues or drive improvements. Oversight by the home's registered manager was effective however.
  • The provider didn't always support staff with essential training, such as first aid and how best to support autistic people and people with learning disabilities.

However:

  • There was a positive and open culture for all people in the home.
  • People were cared for by compassionate staff, who understood and responded to their needs.

The report will be published on the Maple Health UK Limited profile on this website.

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