The Care Quality Commission
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  • Homecare service

Archived: Applewood Support Limited

Office 1, Amber Business Centre, 4 Mercury Park, Amber Close, Tamworth, Staffordshire, B77 4RP (01827) 62533

Provided and run by:
Applewood Support Limited

Important: This service is now registered at a different address - see new profile
Important: This service was previously registered at a different address - see old profile

All Inspections

5 June 2014

During a routine inspection

We visited Applewood Support on a planned announced inspection. We had informed the service of our visit to ensure someone would be available to facilitate the inspection. At our previous inspections in October 2013 and February 2014 we had concerns relating to the employment of staff, how staff were supported, the management of medication and the quality of the service's records. We had asked the service to take action to improve. At this inspection we found that improvements had been made.

Below is a summary of our finding based on our observations, speaking to people who used the service, the staff supporting them and from looking at records. If you wish to see the evidence supporting our summary please read the full report.

Is it safe?

Recruitment procedures were in place to ensure suitable staff were employed.

The service followed the correct procedures in safeguarding vulnerable adults from the risk of abuse.

People's medication was managed safely.

Is it effective?

Everyone had a care plan which informed staff how to meet people's needs. Assessments included people's needs for specialist equipment, mobility aids and dietary requirements.

Staff were supported and received the appropriate training to ensure they were effective in their roles.

Is it caring?

People who used the service told us they felt well cared for. One person said: "The carers are brilliant".

A relative told us: "Applewood Support are much more tailored to meet my daughters needs and much more friendly.'

Is it responsive?

People had their care needs regularly reviewed.

If people became unwell staff responded appropriately to ensure their needs were met.

Is it well led?

The service had systems in place to monitor the quality of the service provided.

The manager followed the relevant legislation and consulted with the appropriate professionals at the required time.

10 February 2014

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We inspected Applewood Support in October 2013. Some people we spoke with at the time told us they were happy with the service they received. However we found the service did not have robust recruitment practices in place and that they did not provide adequate support for staff to develop their knowledge and skills. We had particular concerns about the lack of staff training in supporting people to take medicines and poor record keeping in respect of medicines. We found an overall lack of systems to monitor and develop the quality of the service.

We returned to Applewood Support in February 2014. We could see that some developments had been made. However we found that the changes had made a small impact and had not brought about the improvements needed to ensure that care was provided safely and appropriately. We found a continuing failure to make appropriate recruitment checks. There was no assurance that the care workers employed by Applewood Support were suitable to deliver personal care to people. We did not see evidence that care workers were supported to develop appropriate knowledge and skills. We found inconsistent and misleading information in records.

10, 17, 22 October 2013

During a routine inspection

When we inspected Applewood Support Ltd, 44 people were using the service. Approximately half of these people were under the age of 60 and had a learning disability, a physical disability or a diagnosis of mental ill health. We looked in particular at the service provided to this group of younger adults. We visited five people in their homes and one person in their local library; another person spoke with us at the Applewood office. We asked them if their needs were met by the care workers who supported them. One person told us: 'They really look after me'. Another person said: 'Whatever needs doing, they do it with me; it suits me very well'. A third person told us: 'Applewood is brilliant'. People told us that support workers treated them with kindness and respect.

We found that care records did not reflect the quality of the care we had observed. Risk assessments did not always provide details about preventing vulnerable people from experiencing harm. We had concerns about the recruitment and lack of supervision and training for staff. Systems to check and audit the service had not been kept up. We found evidence that this had had a particular impact in respect of people's medication.