Apollo Care (Wirral) Limited

People's experience of using this service: Safe recruitment practices had been followed, however records required improvement to clearly reflect this. We have made a recommendation about staff recruitment.

Sufficient numbers of staff had been recruited. People told us staff usually arrived at the time they expected them and stayed for the contracted amount of time.

People told us they received safe care. Staff were knowledgeable about safeguarding procedures and how to raise any concerns they had. Risks to people had been assessed and measures put in place to reduce these risks.

Medicines were managed safely and staff completed training regarding this.

People's nutritional needs were known and met by staff. People told us they always received their choice of food and enjoyed the meals prepared for them.

Staff felt well supported in their role and able to raise any issues with senior staff and the registered manager. Regular training had been completed by staff and they received supervisions and an annual appraisal to further support them in their posts.

The Service worked with other professionals and agencies to help ensure people's needs were met effectively. Advice provided was clearly recorded and followed by staff.

Consent to care and treatment was sought in line with the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. People told us staff always asked for their consent before providing support.

People told us staff were kind and caring and that their dignity was protected by staff. This was also reflected within the responses to surveys and within the compliment cards displayed in the office. People usually received support from the same carers and staff told us they knew the people they supported well, including their needs and preferences.

Care plans reflected people's needs, however there was limited person-centred information recorded within them. The registered manager was aware of this and had begun updating and improving the plans of care. The care files had been reviewed regularly and people were involved in these reviews.

Systems were in place to gather feedback from people regarding the service and action was taken to improve the service, based on the feedback. The registered manager also completed regular audits and addressed any areas identified as requiring improvement in order to improve the service provided to people.