The Care Quality Commission has issued three Fixed Penalty Notices, each for £1,250, against a Barnet care provider - after it failed to report three incidents to the CQC.
Lifeways Community Care Limited has been fined a total of £3,750 after admitting the breaches of regulation.
During CQC’s inspection of Lifeways Community Care (New Barnet) in January 2017 inspectors found records showing that, in September 2016, two allegations of abuse concerning the care Lifeways provided people at supported living schemes in Edgware and Muswell Hill had not been notified to CQC, contrary to regulations. In addition an incident that occurred in December 2016, resulting in the police being called and visiting one scheme, had also not been notified to CQC, again contrary to regulations.
These failures to notify CQC of significant occurrences prevented the Commission from monitoring the service effectively.
Debbie Ivanova, CQC’s Deputy Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care, said:
“Organisations that provide care should be well aware that they need to report instances of alleged abuse or matters reported to the police to the Care Quality Commission without delay."
“Lifeways Community Care Limited failed to do this on three occasions and so we have been forced to take action against the company.”
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