A Hove care provider “requires improvement”, according to official inspectors from the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
Dyke Road Community Support Services, in Dyke Road, Hove, was given an overall rating of requires improvement – the second worst grade out of four – in its latest CQC report.
The company provided care and support to 13 people living with a learning disability in two homes, the report said.
The care was rated as good – and described as safe – and services were caring and responsive.
But the CQC said that the organisation fell short when inspectors assessed whether it was well-led and effective.
The report said that Dyke Road Community Support Services “had not ensured that we were notified of all safeguarding incidents which they are required by law to do”.
And it said that the company had not always assessed people’s mental capacity when it should have done.
The CQC said: “People were not always involved in decisions about their capacity and in their best interests.”
Two inspectors spent two days at the end of January checking the “personal care and support” provided by Dyke Road Community Support Services.
They carried out the announced inspection because the service – run by the Care Management Group – has a new owner after a deal late last year.
The Care Management Group was sold to global investment manager AMP Capital – for a sum said to be close to £200 million – by Court Cavendish, which owns the care home business HC-One.
Court Cavendish, run by Dr Chai Patel, rescued the Care Management Group in 2008 when it was on the brink of bankruptcy.
The CQC said: “There were enough staff to keep people safe and meet their needs.
“People were treated with kindness and compassion … Staff worked well together and with other professionals.
“When complaints were made, these were responded to quickly and effectively. When things went wrong, lessons were learnt.
“Staff knew people well and people were at ease in their company. We saw people and staff laugh and joke together and talk about their days. One person told us: ‘Staff are amazing.’”
