Care agency rated inadequate for second time

The CQC said there were shortfalls in the provider's service

A care agency has been rated inadequate for a second time in a year and told to make urgent improvements or risk being shut down.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) found multiple breaches of standards at Leeds-based Adopt Healthcare, which provides help to people in their own homes.

The agency was placed in special measures in August and re-inspected in January.

It has been contacted for a response about the findings of the report.

'Rapid, widespread improvements'

In its report, the CQC said concerns had been raised about "altercations" between staff and patients, where staff "argued" and "raised their voice", prompting inspectors to make a safeguarding alert to the local authority.

Inspectors found people did not always have their needs "appropriately assessed", staff recruitment processes were not consistently safe, and key information was missing from risk assessments.

The report did, however, praise the provider, which had two users on its books at the time of the inspection, for being "kind" and "caring" towards its users.

It also said staff felt supported by managers.

However, the agency, which is based on Harehills Lane, has been told to make urgent improvements, or risk being shut down.

Sheila Grant, the CQC's deputy director of operations in the north, said: "When we inspected Adopt Healthcare, we found shortfalls identified at our previous inspection hadn’t been addressed.

"We have told leaders where we expect to see rapid, widespread improvements and will continue to monitor the home closely to keep people safe during this time.

"We will return to check on their progress and won’t hesitate to take further action if people aren’t receiving the care they have a right to expect.”

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