Care agency criticised by health watchdogs

Caremark, based in Pulborough, was rated as ‘requiring improvement’ by the Care Quality Commission following a visit by inspectors last month.

Breaches of regulations regarding medicines, staffing levels, staff training and support were found at a previous inspection in April last year.

But in a report out this week, the commission said that the latest inspection showed that there had been improvement in how the service was managed and delivered.

New staff had been recruited and the breach in relation to staffing numbers was met. The inspectors said: “We found, however, that further work was needed to make and sustain progress in the areas of medicines management and staff training and support.”

At the time of the latest visit Caremark was supporting 112 people, including six children, with personal care.

The commission’s report stated: “People were at risk because guidance for staff on the support they required with their medicines was sometimes missing or inconsistent.