A CARE provider has ceased operations in Colchester after a poor inspection report, combined with an owner in ill health, forced the branch to close.

Caremark's Colchester franchise, which looked after people in their own homes, was handed the worst possible rating from health inspectors after officials found staff worked despite testing positive for Covid-19 and failed to give people their medication on time.

The owner of the Colchester office has also reportedly suffered from serious health problems, and the combination of circumstances meant the care home has closed.

Residents have been transferred to a different provider.

The service had previously been rated good in April 2020 when it was newly registered, but the latest report rated Caremark Colchester inadequate – the lowest possible rating.

The most serious aspects of the provider’s failings were in its leadership and the level of safe care it offered.

On one occasion in June, a member of staff continued working with residents despite having tested positive for Covid-19; despite this being reported to Essex County Council, no internal investigation took place to prevent a repeat incident.

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Allegations of abuse and serious injury to those using the service were also not reported to the CQC, and vetting procedures were not followed to ensure members of staff were suitable to work in the home.

Some staff, for example, had started working for Caremark before their DBS check had been returned.

Other sections of the report detailed how some residents missed their medication because timetabling meant staff did not have enough time when they visited each people under their care.

A spokesman for Caremark said the transition which involved closing the Colchester branch was well-ordered.

He said: “The owner of the Colchester office is unfortunately suffering serious health complaints which require extended periods of stay in hospital.  

“The care and safety of our customers and those in the community is our upmost priority and therefore, with no immediate or long-term solution for our Colchester office, we took the decision to close that individual branch.

“Once this successful handover had taken place, we closed the office and terminated the franchise agreement.”

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