Background to this inspection
Updated
29 November 2016
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
We made an unannounced inspection on 1 November 2016. The inspection team consisted of one Inspector, a British Sign Language interpreter, and a Specialist Adviser in relation to care and support for people with sensory impairments.
We looked at the information we held about the service and the provider. We looked at statutory notifications that the provider had sent us. Statutory notifications are reports that the provider is required to send us by law about important incidents that have happened at the service.
We contacted the local authority before our inspection and asked them if they had any information to share with us about the care provided to people.
Before the inspection, the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. This information helped us to focus our inspection.
We observed how staff supported people throughout the day. We spoke with five people who lived at the home, the Area Manager, the registered manager, the deputy manager, and three members of staff . We also spoke with three relatives and one healthcare professional. We looked at two care records, which included risk assessments, healthcare information and information about communication styles and preferences. We also looked at the medicine administration records and comments and feedback received, including complaints.
Updated
29 November 2016
Mulberry House is located in Walsall. The service provides accommodation and care for up to six people with sensory impairments, physical disabilities, mental health conditions and autistic spectrum disorders. People lived in their own self-contained flats on site, and also had use of a shared lounge and kitchen area. On the day of our inspection, there were six people living at the home.
The inspection took place on 1 November 2016 and was unannounced.
There was a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered providers and registered managers 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.
People were involved in decisions about keeping them safe and in promoting their own safety. People's freedom was promoted, whilst ensuring their safety. People administered their own medicines where it was safe for them to do so and where they wanted to be responsible for this. People received their medicines safely and as prescribed.
There were sufficient staff to safely meet people's needs and to provide support both inside and outside the home.
People were supported by staff who received ongoing training and support in their roles. People were encouraged to eat a healthy and varied diet, including fresh produce. People's health was maintained. People were involved in decisions about their healthcare options and medical appointments and their right to refuse these were respected.
People's independent living skills were promoted and people were supported to set and achieve goals in relation to independent living, where appropriate. People's communication needs and preferences were known by staff.
People's cultural and religious beliefs were respected. People were encouraged to advocate on their own behalf and make their views known.
People were supported by a flexible staff team who adapted to meet people's health and wellbeing needs. People's changing needs were responded to.
People's views were captured and acted upon, and there was a system in place for responding to complaints.
People were involved in decisions about the running of their home, including staff recruitment and general maintenance. Staff were positive about the people they supported and their roles. The ethos of the home was one of inclusion and valuing diversity.
The registered manager monitored the quality of care provided to people and took action where any issues were identified,