Apex Prime Care - Dorchester

At the time of the inspection, Apex Prime Care – Dorchester was providing personal care to 83 people. Of these people, 38 lived in the extra care housing.

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.

Right Support:

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.

The registered manager and staff understood their responsibilities to recognise and report potential abuse.

Right Care:

People and their relatives told us they felt at ease with the care staff. People tended to have regular staff providing care, although depending on where they lived some people experienced more new staff.

People and relatives told us the service was organised in a way that respected their wishes and ensured their care needs were met. People had care plan review meetings at least annually with a senior member of staff, where they, and where appropriate their relative, reviewed and discussed how their care should be provided.

Risks to people and the staff supporting them were managed in a way that respected people's preferences, whilst supporting them to remain safe. Medicines were managed safely so people received their medicines as prescribed.

Right Culture:

There were enough staff to provide people's care. The registered manager was careful not to take on new care packages unless there were staff available to cover these. People and relatives told us staff stayed for the allotted time unless everything had been completed and they were happy for the staff to leave. The provider operated recruitment checks before new staff started providing care, to help ensure staff were suitable for care work.

People and relatives had confidence in the ability of care staff. Staff had training in key topics at induction, with regular updates following this. Some staff told us they would value face-to-face training. The registered manager confirmed this could be provided at neighbouring Apex Prime Care locations and that the opportunity would once again be offered to staff.

The registered manager and staff worked in partnership with health and social care professionals to help ensure good outcomes for people.

People and relatives said they felt able to contact the office if they had queries or concerns.

Staff told us they felt well supported. There were regular audits and checks on the quality of service provided. The registered manager had recognised that staff spot checks and supervision meetings were out of date, and was in the process of addressing this.