A manager from a Romford care home says “they have put many changes in place” following a rating of inadequate by inspectors.

Affinia Healthcare in Eastern Road, Romford, has been placed into special measures by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

It was rated that the care service requires improvement for being effective, caring and responsive, following the inspection in October 2017.

Affina Healthcare is a domiciliary care agency that provides personal care to people living in their own homes and some in supported living.

At the time of CQC’s inspection there were 55 people using the service, nine of which were receiving personal care in a supported living environment.

Debbie Ivanova, CQC’s deputy chief inspector of adult social care, said: “We found significant shortfalls in the way the service was being led.

“Furthermore people reported a closed culture where challenging bad practices was not addressed and incidents were not always taken seriously.”

Inspectors found that risks were not always effectively assessed, reviewed or managed in order to protect people from harm.

Safeguarding processes, although in place, were not always followed.

Medicines were not always administered as prescribed and the CQC found several instances where medicine administration records had not been completed appropriately.

Chinny Kalur, manager and provider at Affina Healthcare told the Recorder: “We have been servicing in the Havering area since 2008 and have always had good CQC ratings. Unfortunately in June we lost a key deputy manager, and I think that there was a drop in moral and subsequently another deputy manager was affected.

“We have employed a special needs advisor who is an ex-CQC director, to make sure the day to day running is of the highest quality.

“I have been working in health and social care for nearly 20 years and I have never had a bad inspection. I’m really shocked and disappointed.

“We have learned the lessons and put many changes in place.”

Mr Kalur mentioned that changes with the Care Act have formed part of the problem.

“It’s a very difficult, challenging time in social health care. We’re not getting guidance as much as we used to before,” said Mr Kalur.