BBC investigation leads to suspension

Brighton and Hove Council has decided to suspend a domiciliary care
agency from taking on any new clients following several failings
exposed by a BBC investigation.

Anchor Care, which currently provides domiciliary care services for
60 people in the Brighton area, featured in a Panorama
programme this week about the quality of care being provided for
older people at home.

The council has now written to Anchor’s clients to find out whether
or not they want to continue receiving their care from the
agency.

Ian Long, the director of housing and city support at the council,
said: “We were reviewing the contract arrangements with Anchor
anyway because of issues that we had identified in terms of them
not meeting the quality standards that we have.”

A spokesperson for Anchor Care said that they had nothing to
add.

Sefton Council said it was confident that provider Care Connect,
which was also investigated by the programme, had dealt with the
failings it highlighted.

The council said it had sought and received assurances from Care
Connect that problems identified have now been rectified to a
standard the council was happy with.