We carried out a review of the data available to us about Apollo Care (Wirral) Limited on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Apollo Care (Wirral) Limited, you can give feedback on this service.
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.
Rating at last inspection: Good (Last report published July 2016).
Why we inspected: This was a scheduled inspection based on previous rating.
Follow up: We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If any concerning information is received we may inspect sooner.
The service had a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run. The registered manager was on holiday at the time of inspection but the provider, trainee manager and two co-ordinators were in attendance.
The provider had systems in place to ensure that people were protected from the risk of harm or abuse. We saw there were policies and procedures in place to guide staff in relation to safeguarding adults and whistleblowing.
We found that recruitment practices were in place which included the completion of pre-employment checks prior to a new member of staff working at the service. Staff received regular training and supervision to enable them to work safely and effectively.
All of the responses from people who spoke with the inspector and the expert by experience was that the service was either very good or excellent. People told us they were very happy with the staff and felt that the staff understood their care needs. People confirmed that staff stayed for the length of time allocated and arrived on time. All of people we spoke with had no complaints about the service.
The staff employed by Apollo Care knew the people they were supporting and the care they needed. People who used the domiciliary service and staff told us that Apollo Care was well led and staff told us that they felt well supported in their roles. We saw that office staff were a visible presence and it was obvious through our observations that they knew the people who they supported really well.
The care records we looked at contained good information about the support people required and recognised people’s needs. All records we saw were complete, up to date and regularly audited. We found that people were involved in decisions about their care and support. We also saw that medications were handled appropriately and safely.