Home care service rated inadequate in report

The Care Quality Commission report into Qualified Care Ltd calls for service improvements

A service which provides personal care and support to people in their homes has been rated inadequate and placed into special measures.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) report into Qualified Care Ltd, which is based in Dover, Kent, was released on Wednesday following an inspection in July.

Inspectors found six breaches of regulation, including those relating to safe care and treatment, safeguarding people from abuse and improper treatment, and failure to submit notifications of incidents.

A spokesperson for the company says it "fully acknowledges the findings" and has "taken them on board with the utmost seriousness".

Following this inspection, CQC rated the service inadequate for its safety, effectiveness, responsiveness and leadership.

Serena Coleman, CQC deputy director of operations in Kent, said: "We found unsafe staffing, poor leadership and a lack of oversight were putting people at serious risk of harm.

"Leaders failed to make sure people received safe care and did not know the health needs of the people they supported.

"The standard of care we saw at this service is completely unacceptable."

People were living at daily risk of avoidable harm because leaders failed to provide safe staffing, proper training, and oversight, the report added.

In a statement Qualified Care Ltd "sincerely apologised that, at the time of the inspection, our service did not meet the standards required".

It added: "We have established a detailed action plan aligned with the conditions of our registration, and we remain committed to continuous improvement.

"Our goal is to deliver a safe, effective, caring and well-led service and to achieve a rating in future that reflects the high standards we strive for."