Inspectors tell Northampton care agency to improve after finding concerns with safety and leadership

Overall Care Quality Commission rating downgraded from 'good' to 'requires improvement'
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A Northampton care agency has been told to improve by the health watchdog after a recent inspection found concerns around its safety and leadership.

Carebank Healthcare's rating from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) was been downgraded from 'good' to 'requires improvement' following the visit in February.

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Inspectors discovered risk assessments were not always in place when a risk had been identified and records did not show residents had received their prescribed medicines.

Carebank Healthcare is based on Pavilion Drive in Northampton Business Park. Photo: GoogleCarebank Healthcare is based on Pavilion Drive in Northampton Business Park. Photo: Google
Carebank Healthcare is based on Pavilion Drive in Northampton Business Park. Photo: Google

"People were not always protected from the risk of abuse. Not all safeguarding concerns had been reported to the local authority," the report, published on March 24, reads.

"Staff were recruited safely. However, recruitment checks were not completed in line with the providers policy.

"The provider and registered manager's oversight of the service required improvement. Audits did not identify the improvements required that were found on inspection."

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Carebank, which provides assistance to people in their homes, was inspected after the CQC received concerns about its recruitment of staff and management oversight.

Inspectors focused on the safety and leadership at the agency, based on Pavilion Drive in Northampton Business Park, and discovered both had worsened since their last visit in late 2019.

"We found no evidence that people had been harmed however, systems and processes were either not effective or robust enough to monitor the quality and safety of the service. This placed people at risk of harm," the report reads.

The CQC inspector did remark that Carebank customers were protected against infection as they told them staff wore appropriate personal protective equipment.

Also customers were positive about the care they received and had support from a regular staff team.

Carebank Healthcare was approached for comment.

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