'Unsafe' Sheffield care provider in special measures for 18 months will remain open

A Sheffield care provider in special measures for 18 months will not close, despite being deemed ‘unsafe’ on two occasions.
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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.

Owner Mark Joseph said: “After quite a few discussions we decided we're going to make every effort possible to review and revive the paperwork because mainly that was what the CQC found issues with.

“We do take the work we do seriously. We are doing all we can right now to ensure that we improve on those areas.”

While inspectors found no evidence people had been harmed, their report said “the lack of effective systems and processes in all areas of service delivery left people at risk of harm.”

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Additionally, medicines were still not being managed safely, service users were not safeguarded from abuse and staff were not properly trained.

Mr Joseph added: “It's a work in progress but we are hoping to do it within as short a time frame as possible and maintain it after that.”

The CQC could still seek to cancel the provider's registration, however, which would result in closure.

Mr Joseph said: “From my perspective, as I have been in care for almost two decades, and the people we are supporting right now, we have an excellent working relationship with them because of the support they are receiving.

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"They are happy to continue with the way things are with the understanding that they could be removed if we don't improve our CQC rating.”

The CQC report noted people who used the service and their relatives “spoke highly of the care and support they received.”

Mr Joseph also revealed Sheffield City Council arranged for a vulnerable person to be placed into the care of his company last year, despite it being in special measures.

A Council spokesperson said it does not have a contract with Chrismark Care to provide care and provisions are in place to ensure people’s safety.