Care provider left people without food - CQC

Staff at a Surrey care provider ignored patients and left them without food and drink for longer than they should, a watchdog has said.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) said carers at Silverjen Limited - which assists clients in their own homes – had left people feeling "unsafe", and one case was highlighted where a person was handled roughly and left in pain.

The CQC added that the Leatherhead-based agency was also administering sedatives without proper record-keeping or oversight.

Silverjen Limited said it was "deeply disappointed" by the watchdog's report.

"Our team of dedicated care staff work extremely hard to provide compassionate, person-centred care," it added.

The company said that since the inspection it had been working closely with the authorities to address the areas of concern.

"We take the CQC's findings very seriously."

The CQC said patients told inspectors they were left anxious over badly-arranged visits, and personal care was rushed.

Amy Jupp, from the watchdog, said: "People told us their care calls were often late or cut short, leaving them waiting anxiously, (with) rushed through personal care like showering, or going without food and drink for longer than they should."

She added that people were "seeing far too many different carers, with little continuity and no proper introductions".

This made them feel "unsettled and unsure who'd be coming through their door".

She said families had "lost confidence" in the service - which supports people with complex needs - and they could not get through to the office.

Silverjen Limited was rated inadequate and placed under special measures by the CQC.

The inspection in August had been prompted by earlier concerns over safety, treatment and staffing levels.

Silverjen Limited told the BBC it believed the measures it was putting in place would "re-establish the CQC's confidence" in its service.

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