Intact (uk) Limited t/a Excel Care has failed to protect people’s safety and welfare says regulator

14 February 2012

Excel Care domiciliary care agency, is not meeting three of the government’s essential standards of quality and safety.

A Care Quality Commission inspection on the 23 November 2011 found that the agency, based at 201–203 Moston Lane East, New Moston, Manchester, was not meeting three of the 16 essential safety requirements.

Providers of care services have a legal responsibility to make sure they are meeting all the essential standards of quality and safety.

The resultant CQC report, published on our website, highlights major concerns in the following three areas:

People should be cared for by staff who are properly qualified and able to do their job

People using the service are not always protected from unsafe or inappropriate care as the agency does not have adequate systems in place for the recruitment and management of staff. Staff personnel files were incomplete and did not document whether criminal record (CRB) bureau checks or Independent Safeguarding Authority checks had been carried out.

There should be enough members of staff to keep people safe and meet their health and welfare needs

Inspectors found no evidence that a needs analysis or risk assessment had been conducted by the agency to determine the appropriate staffing levels required.

In addition, it was not clear whether staff employed by the agency had been assessed as having the competencies, knowledge or skill to provide effective care to people using the service.

Staff should be properly trained and supervised, and have the chance to develop and improve their skills

Upon inspection the agency did not have effective systems in place for the induction, training and supervision of staff. There were no records to indicate how the agency had assessed the training needs of employees and there were no records of the training available to staff at the time of our visit.

CQC regional lead for the North West, Debbie Westhead, said: “The care that has been supplied by this service has fallen far short of the standards people have a right to expect. It is clear that improvements need to be made in relation to recruitment and support of staff members.

We have told Excel Care to provide us with an action plan showing how they will comply with the standards and we will continue to monitor the situation closelyto ensure the required improvements are made and sustained.”

“The law says these are the standards that everyone should be able to expect when they receive care. Providers have a duty to ensure they are compliant – or face the consequences.”

Ends

For media enquires, please contact the CQC regional communications team; David Fryer on 07901 514220 or Kirstin Hannaford 0191 233 3629 or the CQC press office on 0207 448 9401 or out-of-hours on 07917 232 143.

Notes to editors