Cheshunt care firm for people with disabilities and autism rated inadequate

First Choice Medical Solutions which offers care for people with disabilities and autism is rated as inadequate overall

A care service for people with learning disabilities and autism has been rated inadequate by inspectors.

First Choice Medical Solutions was given the rating after Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspectors visited in November 2022 and January 2023.

The firm in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, was rated "inadequate" for leadership and safety and needs to improve its effectiveness, the CQC said.

However, it was rated "good" in caring and responsive categories.

In a statement the provider said: "We acknowledge the results fall far short of the high standards the people we support, and their loved ones, rightfully expect and we apologise for these shortcomings."

First Choice Medical Solutions helps adults and children with sensory or physical disabilities, as well as people with dementia, learning disabilities and people with autism.

The CQC report, published in May, said at the time of inspection 28 people were using the personal care service.

The CQC said it inspected the service after receiving concerns in relation to unsafe recruitment processes and a lack of support and training for staff.

Inspectors said staff needed further training to develop skills and understand how to support people with a learning disability or dementia in their best interests.

The commission also found staff were often late arriving to support people.

Managers "failed to ensure they had a full understanding of their management responsibilities", the inspection report said.

"However, we found that not all processes and systems operated by the provider promoted safe and quality care."

The provider has been asked to devise an action plan to outlining what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety.

A spokesperson for First Choice Medical Solutions said since inspection it had "made a significant number of improvements".

These included an extensive retraining programme for all staff as well as well as new formal reference and security checks, the company said.

Steps have also been taken to "rectify a small number of historic gaps the CQC identified in our record keeping".

The inadequate rating means it is now in special measures and can expect to be re-inspected in six months' time.

The service, previously inspected in 2019 at a different location in Hertfordshire, was found to be "good" overall.

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