Care Centre Provider and Homecare Agency Receive Orders For Improvements

Two care providers in Sheffield, one running a care home and another providing homecare support, have been rated inadequate by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Inspectors have ordered Roseberry Care Centres, responsible for Dalewood View care home, and Comfort Call Sheffield to make improvements to their services.

An unannounced inspection of Dalewood View in December 2014 found the home was failing to provide safe, effective, caring, responsive or well-led care, resulting in two warning notices that set deadlines for improvements.

The same criticisms were levelled at home care agency Comfort Call Sheffield following a similarly unannounced inspection in November 2014. Comfort Call Sheffield have also received two warning notices, and blamed "operational and staffing challenges" for the issues highlighted by the CQC.

Debbie Westhead, deputy chief inspector of adult social care in the north, said of the notices issued to Roseberry Care Centres: "In serving warning notices we have signalled to the provider that the service provided at Dalewood View is simply unacceptable. 

"We will return to the home to check that the necessary improvements have been made. If not - we will take further action."

Discussing Comfort Call Sheffield, she said: "Home care agencies provide a vital service to help people get on with their daily lives, but inconsistent or unreliable care can be very worrying, particularly for people who depend on their care worker and may have no one else to call on.

"We found the care provided by Comfort Call Sheffield fell a long way short of the level of service we expect. We have told the agency that they must take action to resolve the issues we identified."

Expert Opinion

Patient safety should always be the top priority for any organisation providing care and treatment and it is extremely concerning that two care providers in Sheffield have been rated as inadequate by the CQC. A worrying series of issues have been highlighted by the Care Quality Commission and it is now vital that management and staff at Roseberry Care Centres and Comfort Call Sheffield examine the failings identified with the aim of improving standards across the board. <br/> <br/>"Our work on behalf of victims of care home failings and neglect means we understand the consequences these issues can have for residents, as well as their friends and family, so it is crucial steps are taken to ensure that the failings which have been identified are resolved urgently.” Tom Mather - Partner