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Apex Prime Care - Brighton

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Zone A, Unit 5, Woodingdean Business Park, Hunns Mere Way, Brighton, BN2 6AH (01273) 600494

Provided and run by:
Apex Prime Care Ltd

All Inspections

During an assessment under our new approach

Our view of the service

 

About the service

 

Apex Prime Care Brighton is a domiciliary care service providing personal care to people living in their own homes. There were 46 people using the service at the time of the assessment.

 

Who the service is for

 

This service supports older people and people living with dementia who are living in their own homes.

 

Key Findings

 

We carried out this assessment between 17 June and 2 July 2026. We inspected this service remotely, which means we did not physically visit the office location. This service was previously rated as good. We carried out this assessment to confirm whether the rating of good remains accurate. This report does not provide detailed information on areas where we found practice continues to meet a good standard. Instead, our findings focus on any areas where the service needs to improve or where we found exceptional practice.

 

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates the personal care and support that people may receive. 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.

 

Risks to people were assessed and care was provided safely. A relative told us, “[Name] has never had any accidents in all this time, I think they’re mindful of potential risks but never make a big fuss.” People were supported by enough staff who had the skills and knowledge to support them safely. Feedback from staff included, ‘The service also places importance on staff development by providing appropriate training and ongoing support. This has helped me to develop my skills, increase my confidence, and continue providing person-centred care to clients.’ There were effective systems in place to safeguard people. Medicines were administered safely and there were systems in place to ensure the environment was safe. A healthcare professional described the registered manager and staff as going ‘over and above to support the needs of their patient, showing excellent awareness of safety with manual handling and patient-centred care.’

 

People’s care needs were assessed. People had care plans which contained guidance for staff to meet their needs. Care records and risk assessments were reviewed and up to date. Staff understood the importance of seeking consent and respected people’s right to choose.

 

Staff treated people with kindness. Feedback from staff included, ‘I feel that service users are treated with dignity and respect.’

 

People’s care records were person-centred. Feedback from staff included, ‘I find my role both rewarding and fulfilling, and I take great pride in supporting clients to maintain their independence, dignity, and quality of life within their own homes.’

 

There was evidence of a positive and inclusive culture. Staff spoke highly of teamwork and described the registered manager and office staff as being supportive. Feedback from staff included, ‘I feel proud of what I’ve achieved. Apex is a great place to work.’ The registered manager and office staff were described as ‘extremely professional, helpful and easy to approach regarding any situation that may arise during the working day. They listen and handle the situation, whatever it is that makes the client, carer and family feel at ease.’

 

20 November 2017

During a routine inspection

This inspection took place between 20 and 29 November 2018. The inspection involved visits to the agency's office, to people’s own homes, conversations with people, their relatives, staff and professionals. The agency was given two working days’ notice of the inspection. The agency provided 70 to 80 people with a domiciliary service, for approximately 750 hours a week. Many of the people were older persons, some people also lived with long-term medical conditions and some had alcohol or substance abuse related conditions. People received a range of different support in their own homes. Some people received occasional visits, for example weekly support to enable them to have a bath. Other people needed more frequent visits, including visits several times a day to support them. This could include two care workers and the use of equipment to support their mobility. Some people needed support with medicines and meals preparation.

The service had a registered manager in post. 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 provider for the agency is Apex Primecare Limited, a national provider of care.

This was the service’s first inspection under Apex Primecare Limited. Services were provided to people who lived in Brighton and Hove and local areas as far as Worthing and Saltdean.

People were safeguarded against risk, including risk of abuse. The registered manager and care co-ordinators ensured a full assessment of people’s needs took place before they agreed to provide them with a service. People had relevant risk assessments completed. Where risk was identified care plans, which were regularly reviewed, were put in place to reduce risk. Staff were knowledgeable about how to ensure people’s safety, including safety from risk of abuse. Where people used equipment, staff used it safely to support them.

Where people needed support with medicines, this was done in a safe way. The registered manager reviewed medicines management regularly and developed action plans if issues were identified. Where people needed support to eat and drink, people had care plans, which staff followed, so their needs were met.

Staff understood the principals of prevention of risk of infection. Staff said they had ample supplies of items such as disposable gloves. We saw staff followed the provider’s policies and procedures when they were with people in their own homes.

There were enough staff to ensure people did not experience missed or shortened visits. Staff had been recruited in a safe way to ensure new members of staff were safe to support people.

Staff were supported by the agency so they had the skills they needed to meet their individual needs. This was through the provider’s ongoing induction and training programmes. The performance of staff was also regularly monitored, including when they worked with people in their own homes.

People were supported with accessing relevant external professionals, including their GPs and district nurses. External professionals told us the agency communicated well with them and responded appropriately to their directions.

Staff understood the importance of gaining people’s consent to care. Where relevant, people had mental capacity assessments completed, and best interests meetings were recorded.

People commented on the kindness, compassion and respect they received from staff. They also said staff encouraged them in remaining as independent as they wished to be. Staff supported people’s relatives in a kindly and supportive way. Staff clearly knew people as individuals, taking their preferences into account when providing care.

People told us they received a responsive service from staff, who knew them well. Staff told us people’s care plans informed them of how each person wanted to have their individual needs met. Care plans were clear and were up-dated when people’s needs changed.

People said they felt confident if they raised complaints or concerns, these would be responded to. Records showed the registered manager followed the provider’s complaints policy.

People commented positively on the effective management of the agency. Staff told us about the agency’s positive culture. Managers were keen to make improvements and ensure people’s needs were met. The provider had a system for regular audit of the service provided. If matters were identified, action was taken to address issues.