Care company closes

A Hertford-based care company has closed their office in Bull Plain after being put in to special measures by the Care Quality Commission.

Eureka Care Services has been downgraded from "good" to "inadequate" following inspections earlier this year. The organisation supports adults living with dementia, physical disabilities, or sensory impairments, as well as people with autism and learning disabilities.

A report published in May by the CQC identified a number of shortcomings:

• People were not kept safe from harm as the systems and processes to keep them safe were not in place.
• Lessons learned from incidents were not embedded to keep people safe as incidents were not always reported.
• The provider failed to ensure people were supported by suitably qualified and competent managers and care staff.
• Staff had not completed appropriate training to safely support people with their known needs. 
• People’s care records were not completed when needs were identified.
• The provider was not found to be working in accordance with the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005
• The provider failed to identify shortfalls in people’s care and experiences
• Staff did not always follow good standards of hygiene when providing care
• Leadership was ineffective and governance arrangements were not embedded.
• Systems to monitor quality, manage risks, or drive improvement were either absent or not followed.
• Engagement with staff, external partners, and the wider community was limited, and learning from incidents or previous inspections was not demonstrated.

Eureka Care Services Ltd said: "We deeply regret that we fell short of the high standards of care and safety that the people we support and their families rightly expect."

"The safety and wellbeing of the people in our care remain our absolute priority," it added.

The full CQC report on Eureka Care Services can be read here.