Unregistered domiciliary care provider fined £9000 for operating illegally
The owner of a domiciliary care business has been ordered to pay almost £9,000 at Luton Magistrates’ Court, after she was found to be operating illegally.
Florica Jordan, who ran Cheshunt Care based in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, was fined £1,250 in court on Friday 23 August 2019. Ms Jordan was also ordered to pay a £125 victim surcharge and £7,607.68 costs as a result of the prosecution brought by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
Despite three unsuccessful attempts to register the business, the court heard that Ms Jordan operated Cheshunt Care without the appropriate registration. All domiciliary care agencies must be registered with the CQC to ensure safety for people who use them.
When inspectors investigated this service, they found records and support plans for seven people, job offer letters for three care assistants and staff attendance sheets. They also found an employers’ liability insurance certificate, a brochure and business card for the service as well bank statements showing payments to care staff.
Ms Jordan entered a guilty plea prior to the hearing, admitting she carried out regulated activity without the required registration. This constituted a breach of section 10 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008.
Joyce Frederick, CQC’s Deputy Chief Inspector of Registration, said: “The law requiring care agencies to register with the Care Quality Commission protects people needing care in their own homes. It ensures all care providers are monitored and inspected, meaning safe care and treatment is maintained.
“Providers of personal care services deal with people whose circumstances can make them vulnerable, and who may not be able to report abuse or poor care. Where we find providers operating outside of the law, we do not hesitate to act to protect people.”
Picture (c) Freepik.
