Apace Support Services Limited

On this page

• Overview
• Learning culture
• Safe systems, pathways and transitions
• Safeguarding
• Involving people to manage risks
• Safe environments
• Safe and effective staffing
• Infection prevention and control
• Medicines optimisation

Safe – this means we looked for evidence that people were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. This is the first assessment for this service. This key question has been rated good. This meant people were safe and protected from avoidable harm.

This service scored 72 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

The provider had a proactive and positive culture of safety, based on openness and honesty. Staff listened to concerns about safety and investigated and reported safety events. Lessons were learnt to continually identify and embed good practice.

The registered manager told us that since they commenced providing support with personal care in February 2026, there had not been any complaints, serious accidents or incidents or safeguarding allegations. However, they had a good understanding of how to deal with such events to ensure there was learning from them. Various policies and procedures were in place, such as a complaints procedure, to provide guidance in this area.

The provider worked with people and healthcare partners to establish and maintain safe systems of care, in which safety was managed or monitored. They made sure there was continuity of care, including when people moved between different services.

Both people using the service at the time of inspection were privately funded which meant the provider had not worked with the local authority when the people transitioned to using the service. However, they did carry out their own assessment of people’s needs to check what those needs were and if they could meet them. The assessments involved people’s relatives as well as the people themselves.

The provider worked with people and healthcare partners to understand what being safe meant to them and the best way to achieve that. Staff concentrated on improving people’s lives while protecting their right to live in safety, free from bullying, harassment, abuse, discrimination, avoidable harm and neglect.

Although there had not been any safeguarding incidents at the service, the registered manager and staff were aware of their responsibilities in this area. Staff had undertaken safeguarding training and told us they would report any suspicions of abuse to the registered manager. A staff member told us, “I would definitely report to my manager and contact CQC and the local authority if the manager doesn’t do anything.” The provider had policies on safeguarding adults’ and children to help guide practice in this area.

The provider worked with people to understand and manage risks by thinking holistically. Staff provided care to meet people’s needs that was safe, supportive and enabled people to do the things that mattered to them.

Risk assessments were in place for people. These included information about the risks people faced, and how to mitigate those risks. They covered risks including those related to medical conditions, falls and skin integrity. People and relatives were involved in developing the assessments. Relatives told us people were safe. A relative told us, “I am happy with them. [Person] is 100% safe.”

The provider detected and controlled potential risks in the care environment. They made sure equipment, facilities and technology supported the delivery of safe care.
The provider supported people who lived in their own homes. As such, the provider was not responsible for the maintenance of people’s property or possessions. Nevertheless, they had caried out environmental risk assessments to help ensure the environment was safe for staff to work in. Assessments covered areas such trip hazards, fire evacuations and infection prevention and control.
 

The provider did not always make sure there were enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff.

Most pre-employment checks had been carried out in line with legal requirements, including checking proof of identification, the right to work in the UK and obtaining employment references. However, for 1 member of staff their criminal record check had been returned saying the number did not match the person’s name. The provider had failed to pick this up. The registered manager told us, “It seems like we have overlooked that and we will look to amend it.” After we discussed this with the registered manager, they took steps to obtain a new check and temporarily stopped the relevant staff member working with people until the new check had been carried out. All other relevant checks had been made on the staff member.

There were enough staff employed to support people. The registered manager said there had not been any missed calls and relatives confirmed this. They also said staff were punctual. A relative told us, “Staff are very punctual. They stay for the full hour.” Another relative said, “They come on time.”

Staff undertook relevant training to help them in their role, including completing the Care Certificate. This is a nationally recognised qualification for people working in the care sector.

The provider assessed and managed the risk of infection. They detected and controlled the risk of it spreading and shared concerns with appropriate agencies promptly.

There were systems in place to help prevent the spread of infection. Staff were expected to wear personal protective equipment [PPE] when providing support with personal care. Staff confirmed that they did wear PPE. Staff had also undertaken training about infection control. In addition, the provider had a policy on infection prevention and control to help guide good practice in this area.

The provider made sure that medicines and treatments were safe and met people’s needs, capacities and preferences. Staff involved people in planning, including when changes happened.

At the time of inspection, the service did not support anyone with medicines. The registered manager said they could provide this in future if required. Staff had undertaken training about medicines administration and there was a policy in place to help guide practice.