Sevacare was forced to close its Haringey branch in February after a joint investigation by Channel 4 and the Sunday Times newspaper found care workers had falsified log books and cut visits short.

The firm has now seen its Tower Hamlets branch placed in special measures after the watchdog found it had failed to sufficiently address concerns raised in an inspection in November last year.

When CQC inspectors visited the service in April they found staff were failing to carry out adequate risk assessments and mental capacity assessments, staff induction training was incomplete and service user faced late visits due to travel time for care staff not being factored in properly.

Inspectors found staff at the service were caring, but rated the service overall ‘inadequate’.

The service will see its registration removed if it fails to make improvements within six months.

‘Troubled service’

Debbie Ivanova, the CQC’s deputy chief inspector of adult social care in London, said: “Sevacare has made some improvement in the punctuality of home visits, however lateness was still identified as a significant problem by many people and their families.

“We have made it clear to Sevacare that it must improve or they could face further action to ensure that the people who rely on its services get the care to which they are entitled.”

Ravi Bains, chief executive of Sevacare, said: “We acknowledge that there were issues in this branch [Tower Hamlets] relating to the separately run Haringey contract, whose issues are well documented but operated from the same building.

“We are working closely with the local authority and the CQC in putting right the issues identified. Tower Hamlets council acknowledges that these contracts are separate and are aware of the improvements already made which are also ongoing.

“We hope upon our re-inspection in a few months’ time the hard work of the Tower Hamlets team will be recognised and we achieve the standards we know we can deliver.”

Source: Community Care