'Inadequate' Ealing Care Agency Closes

Inspectors found a catalogue of problems with De Vere

A home care company based in Ealing is closing after a damning report by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The inspectors found that De Vere Care, which provided services to around 20 elderly clients and those with dementia in their own homes, was poorly managed, breached regulations, failed to record accidents and deal with complaints correctly.

The report published in August found an array of problems including staffing issues:

''Care workers were not always adequately deployed to ensure that calls took place and that care workers stayed the length of time as planned and agreed with people using the service.''

'' Medicines management was inconsistent including care workers not recording when they supported people to take their medicines and the failure to use medicines administration records (MAR) to record the administration of prescribed topical creams.''

'' Safe recruitment procedures were not always followed to ensure care workers were suitable to work with people. Training, supervisions and appraisals were not up to date which meant care workers did not always receive the support they required to develop their professional skills and knowledge.''

CQC said ''We found seven breaches of regulations in relation to person-centred care, fit and proper persons employed, consent to care and treatment, safe care and treatment, receiving and acting on complaints, good governance and staffing.''

The overall rating was inadequate which put the service in special measures.

De Vere has reportedly now decided to close the service and transfer care to another borough provider.

We are awaiting a statement from the company.

October 17, 2018