This inspection was completed by one inspector. On the day of our inspection we found that 37 people lived at Maple Dene. We spoke with eight people who used the service, three relatives, the registered manager, care manager and four care staff. Below is a summary of what we found. The summary describes what people told us, what we observed, the records we looked at and what staff told us. We used the evidence we collected during our inspection to answer five questions. If you wish to see the evidence supporting our summary please read the full report.Is the service safe?
People told us they felt safe. One person told us, "I feel very safe here." Safeguarding procedures were in place and staff understood their role in safeguarding the people they supported. Staff were aware of the provider's whistleblowing policy.
Staff respected people's choices and preferences in the way they received support. One person told us, "They (the staff) always ask us what we need and want. We choose what we do." We saw that staff gained people's consent before they supported them with their care needs. This ensured that people's rights were protected.
Staff knew about people's risk management plans and we saw they were supported in line with those plans. This meant people were cared for in a way that protected them from harm.
People were protected against the risks associated with the administration of medicines.
There were sufficient numbers of staff to ensure that people were cared for safely.
CQC monitors the operation of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards which applies to care homes. While no applications had needed to be submitted, proper policies and procedures were in place. Relevant staff had been trained to understand when an application should be made and how to submit one.
Systems were in place to make sure the manager and staff learned from events such as accidents and incidents, complaints and checks made on the service. This reduced the risk to people.
Is the service effective?
People told us their care needs were assessed with them. We saw evidence that people were involved in their care planning and reviews. We saw care plans were regularly reviewed and updated. One person told us, "The staff always ask what I need."
People had their medicines at the dose, time and frequency they were prescribed to ensure medicines were effective. Staff monitored the effect of medicines and reported these to people's health care professionals.
Is the service caring?
People were supported by kind and caring staff. We saw staff were patient and encouraged people to be independent. One person told us, "The staff are excellent."
People's preferences, interests and diverse needs had been recorded and care and support was provided in accordance with people's wishes.
Is the service responsive?
People had the opportunity to plan and engage in a range of different activities each day.
People were asked their views about the service and the provider acted on comments that people made.
Where care staff had noticed people's changing needs, their care plans were updated to reflect this. We found staff discussed people's care needs with them on a regular basis.
Is the service well led?
The registered manager ensured there were sufficient numbers of staff with the appropriate skills to care for people in the way they wanted and needed to be.
The provider had risk management systems in place. We found the provider checked that risks were managed effectively. We found the provider used the information they gathered from their checks to develop a service improvement plan.
The provider sought the views of people who used the service and staff. Records seen by us indicated that people were asked about all aspects of the service and their views were acted on.
Staff told us they were clear about their roles and responsibilities. Staff told us the service was well organised and they felt supported by their manager.