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Labour MP calls for regulation of private care providers to be overhauled

A LABOUR MP called today for the regulation of private-sector care providers to be overhauled after a firm was suspended for non-payment of wages.

Rachael Maskell, who represents York Central at Westminster, accused York City Council and watchdog the Care Quality Commission of “failing to scrutinise” the activities of care provider Independent Home Living (IHL) before it was awarded a council contract to provide home-care services in the district.

Ms Maskell said that she investigated the company after receiving “a flood of complaints” from employees that wages and pensions had not been paid and that care visits had not been made.

She said she found that “the owner had embarked on many business ventures in the care sector, which had clearly failed,” and that “there had been an unlawful non-payment of pay and pensions and that care visits had been missed to vulnerable people in the community.”

Ms Maskell said that the workers “were deeply disturbed by the organisation and its employment practices.”

She said the council withdrew the contract after she took up the issue and the watchdog re-examined the company.

It found that IHL “failed to operate effective quality assurance systems and properly assess, monitor and mitigate risks to the service, staff and people.”

The commission also identified failings in staff training and that staff concerns “were not acknowledged or addressed.”

Ms Maskell said: “I have unveiled how poor care and unlawful employment practices can go unchecked due to serious weaknesses in the regulation system.

“Now that Westminster has returned, I will be demanding a meeting with the Care Minister to set out my findings and call for comprehensive regulation to keep the public safe.”

The commission told the Morning Star: “If we have concerns that people are not receiving safe care, we will not hesitate to take the necessary enforcement action to keep people safe.”

York City Council safeguarding director Michael Melvin claimed that “due diligence checks” had been carried out before IHL was contracted.

He added that the decision to suspend the company “was made following the continued non-payment of staff wages” and “concerns being raised by customers about issues with inconsistent service following a number of staff leaving.”

IHR director Anton Palmer refused to comment on Ms Maskell’s statement.

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