CQC rates Yorkshire care service as Inadequate

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has rated the quality of services being provided by Ark Home Healthcare Halifax, a domiciliary care service, as Inadequate following an inspection in September.

Ark Home Healthcare provides personal care and support to people within their own homes across Calderdale, Kirklees, and Wakefield. At the time of this inspection 130 people were being supported by the service.

The full report from the inspection can be found here on the CQC website: http://www.cqc.org.uk/location/1-3805016948.

Debbie Westhead, CQC’s Deputy Chief Inspector for Adult Social Care said:

“People are entitled to services providing them with safe, effective, and high quality care. We found care provided by Ark Home Healthcare Halifax fell short of the standard that services are expected to provide.

“We were prompted to inspect after receiving concerns from relatives and staff about the care being provided to people and we found seven breaches in regulation at this inspection.

“We found that medicines were not being managed safely, and we weren’t assured that people were receiving their medicines when they needed them.

“We also found there were not enough staff to meet people’s needs. The staff who were on duty arrived late to people’s homes, and did not stay for the amount of time that they should have. This is unacceptable, and putting people at risk.

“We are working with local partners including Calderdale Council to ensure the safety of people using this service whilst we consider our enforcement options.”

Other findings from the inspection included:

• People and relatives gave mixed feedback about staff. They spoke positively about their regular care staff who they said knew them well and were kind and caring. However concerns were raised about the attitude and manner of others, including the office staff.
• People told inspectors they were not always treated with respect or listened to and their choices were not always respected.
• People’s care records were not always accurate or up-to-date and did not reflect people’s needs or preferences.

CQC are now taking enforcement action against the provider. This is currently subject to legal proceedings and CQC will report on these when able to.

Any regulatory decision that CQC takes is open to challenge by a registered person through a variety of internal and external appeal processes.