‘Unsafe’ Sheffield care provider in special measures for 18 months facing closure

A Sheffield care provider in special measures for 18 months could soon close after being deemed ‘unsafe’ by a health and social care watchdog.
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Domiciliary care service Chrismark Care, based in Burngreave, was rated Inadequate by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) for the second time in less than 12 months after a follow-up inspection last month.

Inspectors found the service provider was still not safe, effective or well-led following an earlier visit in May.

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Chrismark Care, which as of January supported 11 people, has been in special measures since August 2019.

Pitsmoor Methodist Church, the listed address of Chrismark Care.Pitsmoor Methodist Church, the listed address of Chrismark Care.
Pitsmoor Methodist Church, the listed address of Chrismark Care.

Mark Joseph, who runs the organisation, said: “Of course it's bad news but we are working on the situation. We had a discussion yesterday [22 February] with consultants who have come in to offer support, some guys who have worked with the CQC.

“Within the next few days we will work on a way forward. We are looking at the propositions that have been made to us. One was to deregister and get everything sorted then restart in a few months’ time.”

The latest inspection report said people's medicines were still not being managed safely and it was not clear whether they received them as prescribed.

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Additionally, service users were not safeguarded from abuse and improper treatment and staff ‘were not adequately trained’.

Mr Joseph, who combined running Chrismark Care with night shifts as a warehouse operator, said: “It's been a challenge because I started this business four years ago but I was doing two jobs up until last year.

"Two and a half hours sleep just isn't sufficient, my work was suffering both ways.”

No evidence people had been harmed was found but recruitment practices were also not safe, the report stated.

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It continued: “The registered manager had not sought enough information to help ensure people employed were of good character.”

On recruitment, Mr Joseph said: “All the staff we had came from recommendations, everybody knew everybody.

"I think that was the lapse in judgement, not getting them to bring the paperwork in.”

Inspectors did find people who used the service and their relatives spoke highly of the care and support they received.

Mr Joseph said: “The CQC have been a little bit harsh.

"If we have a duty of care then I believe care is the people, not the paperwork.”

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