An Ayrshire housing support service has been pulled up by the Care Inspectorate for not using ‘safer recruitment’ practices.
TLC (Scotland) Housing Support Service, in Main Street, Prestwick, employed some staff who had not been subjected to a reference check.
And some staff’s references received ‘no checks at all,’ according to the scrutiny body, which they claimed put service users ‘at potential risk.’
The findings come on the back of an unannounced inspection.
TLC (Scotland) is registered to provide a service to adults and people with assessed support needs living in the community.
At the time of the inspection, the service covered areas across North and South Ayrshire, supporting around 205 people.
It’s the second time in a month that a care service in Prestwick has fallen foul of the Care Inspectorate.
Last month Ayrshire Live told how South Ayrshire Council assumed control at Homecare by Hera Ltd, after the firm failed to deliver improvements to its quality of care. The firm subsequently closed.
An extract from the Care Inspectorate report into TLC (Scotland) said: “We found that the service had employed new staff since the previous inspection and that safer recruitment practices were not being followed.
“Some staff had no reference checks at all, and others only had a character reference. This potentially puts people using the service and other staff at risk.
“People using the service should be confident that the right people are employed to deliver their care.”
In terms of staff training, the Care Inspectorate found that all staff had completed their mandatory online training.
However, “not everyone” had completed their moving and assisting training.
The Care Inspectorate did note that the company contracted an external firm to deliver training with two sessions “recently completed.”
The report goes on: “We also found that the induction process for staff was not formalised.
"The organisation should address this so that staff have an awareness of what is expected of them and that people receiving support can have confidence that staff are trained and competent.”
According to the inspection findings the service “struggled” with staffing issues which “had an impact” on delivering some care.
But the firm was “working closely” with external services relating to this issue.
It was also noted that TLC had stopped taking on packages of care in “particular areas” until they feel they are able to deliver “safe care.”
The report adds: “They have introduced a back-up on call system which appears to be working well, relieving pressure on weekend staff.”
The Care Inspectorate said the service did have an improvement plan “in place,” progress “had been made” and that management had a “good overview” of where improvement was needed.
But the firm must, by February 3, 2023, ensure that safer recruitment practices “are followed” by being confident that the person they employ is “fit to be so".
Another requirement is for the firm to ensure they have a “robust induction process” in place, that staff receive “appropriate training,” including, but not limited to, moving and assisting, prior to commencing such activity in their role.
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