Mulberry Court

Updated 28 February 2024

Mulberry Court is a residential care home providing personal care and accommodation to up to 12 people. The provider provides support to people with a learning disability and/or autism. At the time of our on-site assessment, 12 people received a regulated activity of personal care. We carried out an assessment due to concerns we had about the service. We carried our on-site assessment on the 3 March. Off site assessment activity started on 4 March 2024 and ended on 20 March 2024. During this assessment we looked at the following quality statements: Learning Culture, Safeguarding, Involving people to manage risks, Safe & Effective Staffing, Medicines Optimisation, How staff, teams and services work together, Consent to care and treatment, Monitoring and improving outcomes, Governance, management and sustainability, Capable, compassionate, and inclusive leaders, Partnerships and communities, Learning, improvement and innovation. Risks to people's health, safety and well-being had not always been assessed or managed and this had placed people at risk of harm. Support plans and risk assessments did not always include information to guide staff on how to provide care and support. This had placed people at risk of not having their needs met. The home had a medicines policy and safeguarding policy in place, but these had not always been followed. People were not always supported to live full, active lives and encouraged to increase their independence. Staff did not have the right training or detail in support plans to meet people's needs, goals and wishes. People were not supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff did not support them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests. Staff were observed to know people well and be able to communicate with them. The provider's monitoring processes were not always effective in helping to ensure people consistently received good quality care and support.

Updated 28 February 2024

Most people told us they felt safe living at Mulberry Court. One person told us: “I don't like it here, I'm not safe. There is too much change, I'm unhappy". Other comments included: “I feel safe with all the staff” and “The waking night for [person’s name] always check on you, they come and knock on the door. It's good they are there to keep me safe. They would worry if I'd go out at night.” People told us they are not always involved in managing their own risk. One person told us: “I can't make choices; they change my schedule all the time and it's too much for me” and “I used to help with cooking, but staff do it now. I had an accident with the microwave so I can’t use the hob. I sort of used to help but now I can't” and “It's much better here now. I like to go swimming once a week. [Staff member] comes to watch me swimming". People expressed they were happy with staff supporting them. They commented: “I like all the staff. I am happy with the support all my staff give me” and “I love the fact all the staff are friendly, they offer us to do the shopping or menu and you don't even need to ask them.” People told us that they are not able to go out and access community as much as they would like to: “I like going shopping, but there's not enough drivers". Relatives agreed: “[My loved one] is a sociable person but I get the impression that the residents do not do as much as they used to as a group such as shared outings”, and “It seems very sad that [people] are left to their own devices." We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.