Archived: Apex Prime Care - Matilda Place

Updated 6 June 2023

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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

Inspection team

The inspection was completed by an inspector and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

This service provides care and support to people living in specialist ‘extra care’ housing. Extra care housing is purpose-built or adapted single household accommodation in a shared site or building. The accommodation is rented and is the occupant’s own home. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for extra care housing; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support service.

Registered Manager

This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

We gave the service short notice of the inspection to ensure people we needed to speak with would be available.

Inspection activity started on 20 April 2023 and ended on 21 April 2023. We visited the location office on both days.

What we did before the inspection

The provider was not asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We reviewed information we had received about the service since registration. We sought feedback from the local authority. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

At the site visit we spoke with the registered manager, a housing professional and 5 care staff. We observed staff supporting people in communal areas and reviewed a range of records. These included 4 people's care and medication records, 3 staff records and audits of the service.

After the inspection

We spoke with 5 people and 5 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We also received written feedback on the service from 2 professionals who had regular involvement with the service, who were both very positive about the quality of the care provided.

Updated 6 June 2023

About the service

Apex Prime Care - Matilda Place provides care and support to people living in 2 'extra care housing' settings in Winchester known as Matilda Place and Danemark Court. People there live in their own flats with some shared facilities. Staff also provide a domiciliary care service to people living in the community. The service provides support to older and younger adults who may be living with a physical disability, sensory impairment, dementia or mental health diagnosis. At the time of the inspection the service was supporting a total of 46 people.

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.

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

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. However, we have recommended the provider reviews their practice.

The provider had systems, processes and practices in place to protect people from the risk of abuse and any learning from incidents was shared. Staff assessed potential risks to people and measures were in place to manage them safely. The provider ensured there were sufficient staff to meet people’s care needs. People received their medicines safely from trained and competent staff. Staff ensured people were protected from the risk of acquiring an infection.

People's needs were assessed and their care was planned with them, taking into account best practice guidance and legislation. Staff received the required training for their role and were supervised and supported in their work. Staff ensured people received any support they required to eat and drink. The registered manager ensured there was close working both within the team and with external services, so people received joined up care and their health care needs were promptly identified and met.

Staff treated people in a kindly manner and with compassion. People were encouraged to express their views and to be involved in decisions about their care. Staff ensured people’s privacy, dignity and independence were promoted.

People received personalised care in response to their individual needs and their care was planned with them. Staff provided stimulation for people in both supported housing schemes, which was tailored to people’s needs. People were able to raise concerns and complaints and these were acted upon. People who wanted to receive end of life care in their home were supported well by staff.

There was a positive culture focused on providing good care for people. There were clear and effective management arrangements in place. Processes were in place to monitor the quality of the service provided and to drive improvements. People, relatives and staff were involved in the service. Staff worked in partnership with a range of agencies to support the delivery of people’s care.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 18 March 2021 and this is the first inspection.

The last rating for the service under the previous provider was good, published on 17 May 2019.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.