“When I started in care work 12 years ago I expected everything to be, well, caring. Instead it was like a nightmare with a company owning the 'business' along with with lots of other interests. I had no experience of caring for vulnerable people and was being asked to give out meds a few weeks into the job. 29 people lived in that house and the staff worked continental shifts of 12 hours with a two and a three. There were 3 of us to team on each shift and not one of us had anything nearing an adequate training. We made beds, did the laundry, gave out meds and meals, carried out personal care and mopped buckets of ****, poo and tears. The manager strolled in when she felt like it and the times I had to spend my wages on washing powder and bread! Running literally to the shop and back as I had left 2 staff on their own. She wouldn't let one of us go out and get the shopping in. Probably scared we would spend more than a few bob. Oh my goodness I could write a book about this place and all the others I have worked at. Profit means minimising your output as one way of maxamising your income. In most cases this accounting ******** transfers into someone going without food and water. Clean bedding and underwear, a choice of what they eat and when they go to bed. I picked up an 'industry' paper in the staff room in my first week there. The headline emplored its readers to do better than the 8 billion the 'industry' had made before. Its shameful to our species that we could think that the care of others is an industry. Any trekkie will tell you that though they can be amusing the ferengay are foul and never to be trusted.”

“By Inselberg

I complained about these exact same problems two years ago but once these care companies have won a contract they are there for the duration and nothing changes. The Care Quality Commission was of little help because their powers seem to be limited. Council members, please listen to the Stoke on Trent residents, because they know what they are talking about. They are the people who have to put up with sub-optimal services from minimally trained staff (because the company is keeping their costs low). Recently I have had help from Staffordshire Crossroads who have been very caring, well trained and conscientious - in short they cannot be faulted. This demonstrates that not all companies are bad and that those which are, need to be weeded out.”

“The question is should the quality of service our elderly and vulnerable residents receive be determined on the basis of profit generation or need? If the former then we can expect short-cuts,streamlining etc. to maximise those profits. If the latter we all have to be prepared to contribute to a comprehensive service where cost is a secondary consideration. We may all be thankful that we did not diminish these services at some point in the future.”

“Haing complained to the council, director of social services and local MP about the quality of care provided by one of the cowboy operators, contracted by the council, but paid for by my family, I complained to the CQC who informed me that they do not investigate individual complaints. They did send me a copy of there latest inspection of the care provider which I can only describe as a sham, the investigation protocol and methods are poor beyond belief.

The vunerable adults in the City are an easy target for these companies. I would urge all families who use these services not to sit back and accept what is provided, there is a need to check and re check, a flying visit of ten minutes when a call of half an hour is being paid for is a regular complaint. Sit outside your families home and watch what happens. I did and it was shameful.”