Care agency has ‘betrayed trust of families’, says MP
SHADOW MINISTER VOWS TO ACT OVER CASE OF FIRM WHICH EMPLOYED STAFF WITH CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS
A SENIOR MP has blasted a care agency for a ‘shocking betrayal of families’ trust’ after it failed to carry out background checks and employed people with criminal convictions.
Salford-based Angels at Home CIC took on staff to work in elderly people’s homes before Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks had been completed, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) said.
Two workers were found to have criminal convictions.
Inspectors said people were put at ‘risk of being supported by unsuitable staff ’ because checks weren’t carried out – and due to a lack of subsequent risk assessments.
Angels at Home bosses insist they are ‘committed to the health, safety and wellbeing’ of those who use the service.
But Worsley and Eccles South MP – and shadow minister for social care – Barbara Keeley has now vowed to take up the case with the CQC and see what action bosses intend to take.
She told the M.E.N.: “This is an appalling case of care failure, in which older and vulnerable people were put at risk in their own homes. Families employing home care companies to support their loved ones rightly expect basic checks to be made.
“I will be following up this report with the Care Quality Commission to find out what further enforcement action they propose to take.”
The agency has been put into special measures after being deemed ‘inadequate’ by CQC bosses, who visited in February.
Inspectors discovered one worker, who had a criminal conviction, cared for people in their homes unsupervised for three months before a DBS check had been completed.
Agency bosses did not carry out checks on four other members of staff, instead accepting DBS documents from previous employers, the CQC report said.
One of those members of staff had a criminal conviction.
Inspectors said risk assessments to ascertain the suitability of those staff to work with elderly people were not carried out.
CQC bosses said many staff had not undergone induction training and were not versed in basic first aid, medicine, safeguarding or food hygiene.
Ms Keeley added: “To discover staff were not trained in first aid and safeguarding, had no idea how to administer medicines and, in two cases, had criminal convictions is a shocking betrayal of families’ trust in this care company.”
A spokesman for Angels at Home CIC said the firm is ‘committed to the health, safety and wellbeing’ of those who use the service, but refused to comment further as CQC proceedings are ongoing.
Salford health bosses said they were working with the agency and the CQC – to put together a ‘clear plan for improvement.’