Apex Prime Care - Isle of Wight

Updated 29 November 2019

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.

Inspection team

The inspection was conducted by two inspectors.

Service and service type

Apex Prime Care – Isle of Wight is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats.

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

We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection. Inspection activity started on 28 October 2019 and ended on 6 November 2019. We visited the office location on 28 October 2019 and spoke with people, their relatives and external professionals on the telephone, between 1 November 2019 and 6 November 2019.

What we did before the inspection

Before the inspection we reviewed the information we had received about the service, including previous inspection reports and notifications. Notifications are information about specific important events the service is legally required to send to us. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with the registered manager and an office staff member. We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at four staff files 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 spoke with seven people who used the service and three relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke to two external professionals involved with the service and four members of care staff.

Updated 29 November 2019

About the service

Apex Prime Care – Isle of Wight is a domiciliary care agency registered to provide personal care for people who require this due to old age, illness or disability. Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also consider any wider social care provided. At the time of the inspection the agency was providing care for approximately 20 people living on the Isle of Wight.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People told us they received safe care and treatment. Risk assessments were completed for people which identified any risks. Care staff understood the importance of safeguarding people they supported, and they knew how to report any signs of abuse, or any accidents and incidents.

Staff had completed training in the safe administration of medicines. People were happy with how they were supported around their medicines.

Staff received an induction into their role and had received appropriate training that equipped them to support people. They had their competency assessed to help ensure they continued to be sufficiently skilled and knowledgeable. Appropriate recruitment procedures were in place to help ensure only suitable staff were employed.

The management team had processes for monitoring visits and endeavoured to ensure that office staff contacted people when care staff were held up or were running late for visits.

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.

People and their relatives told us they were happy with the care provided and staff were caring and compassionate. Care staff were skilled in delivering people's care in the way they preferred. They knew people well, which ensured their preferred routines were met.

People were involved with planning and reviewing their care. Care records were written in a sensitive and person centred way.

A complaints procedure was in place, which people confirmed they were aware of. People's concerns and complaints were listened to, addressed in a timely manner and resolved quickly.

Staff, people and relatives told us they had a good relationship with the management team and could seek support and assistance easily when needed. There were effective systems in place to monitor the safety and quality of the service.

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 Requires Improvement (Published 9 October 2018).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

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.