Walsall care agency told to improve by health watchdog

GTG Care Nursing, based on Lichfield Street in Walsall, has been rated ‘requires improvement’ by the Care Quality Commission.

The agency’s safety, effectiveness, responsiveness and leadership were all rated ‘requires improvement’ and deemed to be falling below the necessary standards.

A report prepared after CQC inspectors visited the agency’s base in January and February earlier this year, said: “The service was not always safe as people were not protected by a safe recruitment system in place.

“People told us staff did not ask for consent before providing care. People’s rights may not have been protected by effective use of the Mental Capacity Act. Improvements were needed in the process to record people’s care. When people complained they did not always receive a response.

“The service was not always well led. People were not protected by a quality assurance system which identified where improvements were needed.”

GTG Care Nursing provides personal care to 17 people living in their own homes.

The CQC’s report added: “At this inspection we found the provider was still not meeting the requirements of the law and staff had not received the training the provider had agreed in their action plan. People told us staff did not usually ask their permission before providing any care. One person said: ‘No, not really, they just get on with it’.

“Staff told us they understood they had to ask for consent before providing any care and they knew if people refused care they were unable to provide it without their consent. We saw where concerns had been noted there was nothing further to demonstrate they had been followed up by the registered manager.

However inspectors rated the agency’s care as ‘good’ and also praised the steps it had taken to improve. The CQC said: “People were happy with the care they received and told us that the staff were kind and caring.

“People were supported by staff who were kind and considerate. People were supported to make day-to-day decisions about their care. People’s privacy and dignity was maintained by staff. Staff supported people to maintain their independence.”

GTG was contacted but unavailable for comment.