CQC Report Rates Home Care Service ‘Requires Improvement’ Over Safety Concerns

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has assigned a “requires improvement” rating to a home care provider following concerns regarding patient safety. Errand Plus and Personal Services, situated on Whiffler Road in Norwich, offers care and support to individuals living independently. Following an inspection in August, the CQC upheld the “requires improvement” status, which was also given after the previous inspection in September 2020. Errand Plus and Personal Services stated that it perceives the report as an “opportunity to grow”. The CQC indicated that its decision to inspect the home was prompted by the service’s new location, the duration since the last inspection, the appointment of a new manager, and issues brought forward by the local authority. During their assessment, inspectors determined that the service was “not always safe”. The report stated: “The safeguarding process was not clear and there were occasions where relevant parties like CQC had not been notified of safeguarding concerns that had been raised.” It further noted: “The reporting process was unclear and ineffective and this contributed to actions being missed.” Inspectors additionally voiced concerns regarding the operation of the services and identified problems with risk assessments. The report mentioned: “We reviewed several care records and we noted the service had failed to identify where risk assessments were required.” It also detailed: “Where risk assessments were in place they did not reflect the accurate needs of people within the service and this put people at risk.” In his response to the report, Kolawole Tiamiyy Abd-Rahmane, the registered service manager, expressed that he was “naturally disappointed” by the rating, but considered it an opportunity for growth. He affirmed: “Our unwavering commitment is to prioritise the needs of our service users and their families, continuously working to meet and exceed expectations. While several areas were acknowledged as meeting expectations, others require further development to align with the high standards we strive to uphold.” He also stated the company’s commitment to collaborating with the CQC and local authorities. Information regarding Norfolk news is available on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites. Details concerning the approach to external linking are accessible.