Care is good, but safety must improve at charity branch
A service offered by Maidstone’s Age UK has been told it needs to improve by a health watchdog.
The Mill Street branch of the charity, which provides bathing and foot care services for more than 400 elderly people in the borough, was praised for being effective, caring and responsive.
But several recommendations were made following issues surrounding safety and leadership.
Recruitment procedures were said to be putting people at risk of being supported by staff that were potentially unsuitable, as there was no evidence employees had undergone identity checks.
There had also not been regular criminal record checks, with some staff members having worked for Age UK for more than a decade without being reassessed.
The report followed an announced inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) on June 24 and 27. It also recommended that individuals’ care needs were reviewed more regularly and reviews sought on the service.
Fire risk assessments were also overdue and the new manager had not yet registered with the CQC.
The report, however, included glowing reviews of the staff and care provided, with one user of the service describing it as “first class”.
The report added: “Staff were trained and supported to have the right skills, knowledge and qualifications necessary to give people the right support.
“Everyone we spoke with said the staff supporting them, whether they were using the foot care or bathing service, respected their privacy and dignity.”
Around 80 people are helped with bathing by the charity’s staff, while 340 people benefit from the toenail clipping service.
The inspector heard how staff would also help out with other jobs, such as putting on the washing and changing light bulbs, during the visits.
Louise Macpherson, deputy chief executive of Age UK Maidstone, said that the charity was working to update staff files, although employees are obliged to tell employers if there are any changes to their circumstances.
She said: “I’m really pleased the CQC came out to look at the service because we learn from it and it helps us make sure the clients are getting a really good service.
“They are my main priority and we want to make sure we are following all the procedures.”
To read the report in full visit cqc.org.uk
‘Staff were trained and supported to have the right skills, knowledge and qualifications’