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Apex Prime Care - Basingstoke

Overall: Requires improvement read more about inspection ratings

Unit 7, Prisma Park, Berrington Way, Basingstoke, RG24 8GT (01256) 841997

Provided and run by:
Apex Prime Care Ltd

Important: The provider of this service changed. See old profile

All Inspections

During an assessment under our new approach

Date of Assessment: 12 February to 04 March 2026. This assessment was prompted by a review of the information we held about the service. Apex Prime Care Basingstoke provides care and support to people living in their own home. The service provided care and support for adults with physical disabilities, sensory impairments, dementia, mental health conditions, learning disabilities and autism. Not everyone who used the service was receiving the regulated activities of personal care. At the time of our inspection, they were supporting 204 people with personal care. We reviewed all 33 quality statements across the five key questions.

The service supported some people with a learning disability. We assessed the service against ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ guidance to make judgements about whether the provider guaranteed people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. We found that people were supported in accordance with this guidance.

During our assessment, we identified 3 breaches of legal regulations. We found concerns relating to person‑centred care, safe care and treatment and good governance (including records). People were not always supported in line with their personal preferences, particularly during personal care, which caused distress. People were not always involved in decisions about their care, including care plan reviews. Medicines were not always safe, people’s care records were not always comprehensive and risks were not always identified. Records relating to people’s risks were not always detailed or accurate enough to support staff to keep people safe including information held in people’s homes about managing fire risks. Quality monitoring systems required strengthening to ensure shortfalls would be identified and addressed promptly. Governance shortfalls resulted in breaches of regulations.

The provider did not ensure people received care from consistent staff, and people told us they did not always know who would be visiting them, which caused anxiety. Staff were mostly recruited safely and received training relevant to their roles. However, we found gaps in training for diabetes and end of life Staff did not always feel supported and had been left without a manager for a prolonged period. People told us they also felt let down by management. A new manager had recently been appointed, and a robust action plan had been developed to improve the service. Staff told us they treated people equally and without discrimination. Systems were in place for people to raise concerns or complaints, although some people were not aware of how to make a complaint or who to contact. Some people did not feel listened too.

We have asked the provider to submit an action plan setting out how they will address the concerns identified during this assessment.

28 February 2023

During a routine inspection

About the service

Apex Prime Care - Basingstoke is a home care service providing personal care to people in their own home. The service provides support to people with a range of needs including older people who may be living with dementia, a physical disability, younger people, or people who have a learning disability or autistic spectrum disorder. At the time of our inspection there were 72 people using the service.

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 received safe care from staff who knew them and their needs well. Where people required support with medicines this was provided, however we have recommended the provider continues to review some aspects of medicines recording practices.

We received consistently positive feedback that people were treated with kindness, dignity, and respect from staff when meeting their care needs.

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; However, we have recommended the provider reviews their policies and systems.

People received care that was responsive to their needs. Care plans captured people’s needs, choices and preferences in a person-centred way and ensured staff knew what was important to people and how they would like their needs met.

The provider maintained oversight of the service people received and the registered manager created a culture that was open and transparent. Audits were conducted to monitor and review the care provided to people, and where we provided feedback during the inspection the registered manager was engaged and took proactive steps to address our findings.

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.

Right Support: Model of Care and setting that maximises people’s choice, control and independence.

Right Care: Care is person-centred and promotes people’s dignity, privacy, and human rights. We received consistent feedback from people and their relatives that staff supported people in a kind, respectful and dignified manner.

Right Culture: The ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of leaders and care staff ensure people using services lead confident, inclusive, and empowered lives. The value of people’s independence was at the heart of service delivery.

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

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for the service under the previous provider was Good (published on 25 June 2018).

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

Recommendations

We have recommended the provider reviews medicines recording practises to ensure they are robust and ensure they fully embed the principles of the MCA and supporting best practice guidance.

Follow up

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