Background to this inspection
Updated
10 October 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.
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 two inspectors.
Service and service type
Mulberry Court is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
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
The inspection was announced one hour prior to arriving on site.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals working with the service. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with eight people who used the service and two relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with seven members of staff including the registered manager, receptionist, nurses, care worker, domestic and maintenance staff members. We also observed interactions between people and staff in the home.
We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care records and medication records. We looked at two staff files and agency staff profiles in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.
After the inspection
We reviewed written feedback received from relatives of people using the service. We looked at meeting minutes, training data and other quality assurance records.
Updated
10 October 2020
About the service
Mulberry Court is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care to 41 people aged 65 and over across three floors, each with their own communal areas and bathing facilities. The service can support up to 64 people.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People living at Mulberry Court benefitted from safe and person-centred care, delivered by a team of skilled and co-ordinated staff.
People were kept safe from abuse and avoidable harm and received their medicines on time and as prescribed. Staff were recruited safely, and enough staff were deployed throughout the home to meet people’s needs.
The home was well-run, and staff were clear about their roles and responsibilities. The registered manager was a visible presence in the home promoted an open, learning culture. People, staff and relatives were encouraged to feedback and contribute to the ongoing development of the service.
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.
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 12 November 2018).
Why we inspected
The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about the home. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe and well-led only. We reviewed the information we held about the service. No areas of concern were identified in the other key questions. We therefore did not inspect them. Ratings from previous comprehensive inspections for those key questions were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection.
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 coronavirus and other infection outbreaks effectively.
The overall rating for the service has remained the same. This is based on the findings at this inspection. We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm. Please see the safe and well-led sections of this full report.
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Mulberry Court on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.
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.