Inquiry into Daily Mirror allegations

The Commission for Social Care Inspection is investigating
allegations made in a national newspaper about standards of care at
a private company.

An article in the Daily Mirror this week included allegations
from two former staff members about practices at the Wigan branch
of Verna Community Care in the build-up to a visit from CSCI
inspectors in June. Verna provides home care for older and disabled
people.

A CSCI spokesperson said it was carrying out an investigation
with Wigan social services and they would report back “as quickly
as possible”.

The company said the allegations were unsubstantiated and “in
most cases clearly inaccurate”.

However, it said it would respond professionally to the Daily
Mirror allegations by commissioning an independent investigation at
its Wigan branch.

It said it was a “well run, professional organisation committed
to providing quality care” and was not given enough time by the
paper to respond fully to the allegations.

It claimed the article showed “a complete lack of understanding
of the way a domiciliary care provider operates”.