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'Unreliable' Powys care firm Reach criticised by inspectors Elderly people were harmed by care firm, report finds
(35 minutes later)
A care firm has been criticised for the standards of care it provided for vulnerable people in their own homes. A home care firm was responsible for the neglect and harm of vulnerable and elderly people in Powys, a report by a watchdog has found.
Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW) found 14 breaches of care regulations in Powys by Reach. Failures in the service by Reach, which took over the contract in April, led to some people being admitted to hospital.
In one case a vulnerable person needed hospital treatment after a fall but had been left lying on the floor because a home visit was missed. This included one person who was left on the floor after a fall because a home visit was missed.
Reach, which no longer has the contract, apologised and said it had struggled with staffing "challenges".Reach, which no longer has the contract, apologised and said it had struggled with staffing "challenges".
Powys council cancelled Reach's contract in September after complaints and claims it was "shambolic". In the report by the Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW), 14 breaches of care regulations in Reach's service were found.
The council had caused controversy in May by ending the contracts of 20 home care providers in favour of new contracts with four companies, including Newport-based Reach. Reach started working in Powys earlier this year after a controversial decision by Powys council to end the contracts of 20 home care providers in favour of new contracts with four companies, including Newport-based Reach.
At the time, the authority claimed it would be simpler, deliver continuity of care and also save money.At the time, the authority claimed it would be simpler, deliver continuity of care and also save money.
But in September, Reach lost its contract with the company admitting "a problematic transition process". But it cancelled Reach's contract in September after complaints and claims it was "shambolic".
The report reveals between April and August, the council's adult protection and safeguarding team had initiated 73 referrals of neglect. At the time, the company admitted it had had "a problematic transition process".
Twelve of these were being jointly investigated by Dyfed-Powys Police. In the report by the watchdog, it found that between April and August, there had been 73 referrals of neglect in the care being provided by Reach made by staff at Powys council - 12 of these were jointly investigated by Dyfed-Powys Police.
In addition, CSSIW received nine other examples of people being placed at risk because of poor care delivery.In addition, CSSIW received nine other examples of people being placed at risk because of poor care delivery.
The findings:The findings:
Examples of poor care led to two people being admitted to hospital.Examples of poor care led to two people being admitted to hospital.
Another received only one out of every four scheduled visits and was left without food and medication.Another received only one out of every four scheduled visits and was left without food and medication.
Bethan Evans, corporate director of Reach, offered her apologies and said people were let down, while the company was "significantly understaffed" from the outset.Bethan Evans, corporate director of Reach, offered her apologies and said people were let down, while the company was "significantly understaffed" from the outset.
"Our first and biggest mistake was to under-estimate the particular challenges we would face in taking over this contract," she said."Our first and biggest mistake was to under-estimate the particular challenges we would face in taking over this contract," she said.
Ms Evans added: "We were simply unable to deliver the amount and quality of care expected of us, until we had overcome those staffing challenges."Ms Evans added: "We were simply unable to deliver the amount and quality of care expected of us, until we had overcome those staffing challenges."
Reach said the service it had handed over was now performing well.Reach said the service it had handed over was now performing well.
Powys council said it would "take every opportunity to learn for the future to ensure that the highest possible service delivery is maintained".Powys council said it would "take every opportunity to learn for the future to ensure that the highest possible service delivery is maintained".