A care agency for older people in Dartford has been stripped of its licence to operate after a catalogue of failings were uncovered in an inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The damning report which followed revealed breaches of care regulations at Perfect Care Solutions UK, which was supposed to look after people with mental health or physical disabilities in their own homes.
Numerous red flags, in areas of safety to staffing, across the service, were found by the health and social care watchdog. The agency based in a business centre at Crown House in Home Gardens, was rated “inadequate” and put in special measures.
The CQC, in its latest report published on December 8 after its visits in May and June, found 16 breaches of six regulations which cover areas such as safeguarding clients from abuse and improper treatment, to employing “fit and proper persons”. The breaches have seen Perfect Care Solutions UK lose its licence in what was its first inspection, having registered with the CQC in October 2019.
Although only one person at the time of the inspection was receiving ‘personal care’, which means support with eating and personal hygiene, others were using its ‘care at home’ services. The report does not go into specific incidents or examples of failings seen by inspectors, as is usual, but there are many pages detailing how badly things had gone wrong, from direct care with clients, to the absence of systems, processes, record-keeping and training of staff.
As KentLive previously reported, inspectors even made a safeguarding referral during their visits due to “potential abuse we had identified”. The company did not have systems in place to vet staff, including no pre-employment checks such as references and inspectors were not assured disclosure and barring service (DBS) checks has been done.
The report said: “People were not supported to express their views. Records were not available to show that people’s care needs had been discussed with them to ensure care was delivered in a way that suited the person best. We could not be assured the provider was promoting people’s privacy and dignity as records were not available.”
‘People did not have care plans’
It also said: “People did not have care plans in place, and we could not be assured that people’s needs and preferences were being met. There were no care records in place and there was no information available for staff to follow whilst supporting people.”
And highlighting the failings of Perfect Care Solutions UK Ltd in leading the service, inspectors said: “The provider and the registered manager were not aware of their legal responsibilities and did not ensure the service was meeting the regulations. During the inspection we identified serious concerns in relation to risk management, safeguarding, staff recruitment, infection prevention and control processes, care planning and assessments, staff training and lack of quality assurance systems.”
KentLive approached Charles Zambara, 56, who was the registered manager and sole director of Perfect Care Solutions UK Ltd, which is based in Coldharbour Lane in London, for comment. Companies House shows the company was dissolved on October 25 last year (2022).-KentLive
