Archived: Mulberry Living Limited

Updated 22 July 2017

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked 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.' This was a focused inspection to ensure that the provider was meeting breaches identified at the previous inspection in May 2016.

This was an announced inspection which took place on 7 July 2017. We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection because the registered manager is often out of the office supporting staff or providing care. We needed to be sure that they would be in. On this inspection there was one inspector.

Prior to the inspection we reviewed the information we had about the service. This included information sent to us by the provider, about the staff and the people who used the service. As this was a focused inspection to look at previous breaches we did not ask the provider to complete 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.

During our inspections we spoke with the registered manager and the business development manager. We looked at two summary care plans, minutes of staff meetings, quality assurance records and accident and incidents forms. After the inspection we conducted telephone interviews with two people that used the service, one relative and one member of staff.

The last inspection of this service was on the 27 May 2016 where we found two breaches in relation to the lack of notifications being provided to the CQC and the lack of accurate and secure records.

This was a focused inspection to follow up on these breaches.

Updated 22 July 2017

This inspection was carried out on 7 July 2017 and was announced.

Mulberry Living Limited provides personal care and support for people in their own homes. This includes people that are old and frail, some of whom have disabilities. At the time of our inspection the service provided personal care to approximately 36 people. Other people who used the service were not receiving personal care.

At the last inspection in May 2016, the service was rated Good, however there were breaches in regulations around the lack of security of how records were stored and maintained. We also needed to ensure that appropriate notifications were being sent to the CQC in relation to any incidents of alleged safeguarding concerns. At this inspection we found the service remained Good and the breaches had been met.

Staff were contacted by phone call rather than texting personal information if they were required to visit a person at late notice. The registered manager told us that they were still looking into a more secure technology system to communicate people’s needs to staff.

All staff were required to complete a detailed accident and incident form at the office and the registered manager signed these off when reviewed to ensure that action had been taken.

Pen profiles for some people were kept in the office so that staff had information about the person before they visited them. However, the registered manager assured us those files that did not have the profiles would be completed soon.

There were other systems in place that were being used to improve the quality of care including audits of care notes, medicines, care plans and accident and incidents form. In addition spot checks were undertaken for each member of staff and people were asked their views of the service. However, the registered manager had not recorded how many people had been contacted. They told us that they would ensure that this was done.

People, one relative and staff were positive about the management of the service. Comments included, “I think the manager is very good and the carers are very nice indeed” and “I have raised things with (the registered manager) and I always feel she listens.”

Services that provide health and social care to people are required to inform the Care Quality Commission (CQC) of important events that happen in the service. The registered manager had informed the CQC of significant events.