Care Agency and CQM

[KayYadley]

Hi everyone,

I have recently been allocated a care agency for my son by Social Services (Disabled Children's team). Something felt 'off' about the agency and the speed at which we were allocated them so I did some research. It turns out that the agency has been registered with the Care Quality Commission since Aug 2022 but not yet inspected.

According to Companies House, the agency seems to be very new and has had no staffing for the past year. However, there are some recent reviews on their website of their carers by clients and I've found a reference to 22 staff working at the agency.

I queried this all with Social Services who replied: 'Yes, the agency is CQC registered from August 2022. However it would be for CQC to conduct an inspection to provide a rating, not us. The council have completed their own internal quality insurance, by requesting the policies and procedures. Plus ensuring they are registered in the right categories for CQC'.

The care agency has been provided to provide a high level of care, including intimate care for my vulnerable, non verbal, autistic child.

Has anyone had experience of this before? It just doesn't sit right.

Many thanks.

[Jofisher]

A new organisation has to start somewhere and if social services have done all their checks and they’re happy then at some stage I guess the cqc go out and evaluate them and see if they are following the key indicators and living up to those standards they have said they will.

[MontyCat]

As JoFisher says, new organisations have to start somewhere and, on one level, it is encouraging that options are opening up. My advice would be for you to be and remain vigilant and query anything which doesn't feel right. Councils do not always pick up all indicators - all very well having policies in place, but are they implemented and followed properly? My daughter was very swiftly placed in a supported living setting with a "new" agency which social services assured me was equipped to meet her needs. Eleven months into the placement, it transpired that they did not have CQC registration and therefore could not deliver the personal care she required. Also, the woman in charge had run other organisations across the country which had been dissolved (she was not a nice piece of work). Check out the history of any officers listed on Companies House (they don't list staff, only directors/officers etc.). Request copies of key policies from the agency - safeguarding is always a good start point, ask about procedures and checks they have in place and be alert to any variations. Challenge anything and everything that you are not happy with. Nobody knows your son and his needs better than you. I hope it all works out for the best and you can feel satisfied he is getting the best support and care possible.

[SpeedyH in reply to MontyCat]

Absolutely!

[Mybestfriends in reply to MontyCat]

Agree with all you've said.