Apex Prime Care - Dorchester was rated Good overall at its October 2023 inspection, with only the Safe and Well-led key questions assessed. Key recommendations concerned ensuring all staff understood their safeguarding children responsibilities and addressing a backlog in staff supervision and spot checks.
Concerns (4)
moderateCare planning: “The risk of bleeding was not highlighted in their care plans or risk assessments, which meant staff might not be aware of the need for medical attention in the event of a fall”
moderateSupervision / appraisal: “Some staff said this had not happened as often as it should...The registered manager had recognised that spot checks and supervision meetings had fallen behind”
minor
Safeguarding
: “not all staff we spoke with recalled that it did [include safeguarding children responsibilities]. We recommend the service reviews its staff induction, training and supervision”
minorStaff training: “Since the COVID-19 pandemic staff training had mostly been online...Some staff told us they would value face-to-face training.”
Strengths
· People and relatives expressed high satisfaction with staff, describing them as caring, empathetic and friendly.
· Medicines were managed safely with computerised records, regular checks, and competency observations of staff.
· Sufficient staffing levels maintained; registered manager avoided taking on new packages without adequate staff cover.
· Robust recruitment checks including enhanced DBS checks for adults and children.
· Registered manager and staff worked effectively in partnership with health and social care professionals.
Quality-Statement breakdown (9)
safe: Systems and processes to safeguard people from the risk of abuseGood
safe: Using medicines safelyGood
safe: Assessing risk, safety monitoring and management; Learning lessons when things go wrongGood
safe: Staffing and recruitmentGood
safe: Preventing and controlling infectionGood
well-led: Managers and staff being clear about their roles, and understanding quality performance, risks and regulatory requirements; Continuous learning and improving careGood
well-led: Promoting a positive culture that is person-centred, open, inclusive and empoweringGood
well-led: How the provider understands and acts on the duty of candourGood