Home care owner fined nearly £9,000 for failing to register with CQC

The owner of a home care business has been fined nearly £9,000 for failing to register with England’s social care watchdog, the Care Quality Commission.

Florica Jordan, who ran Cheshunt Care based in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire was fined £1,250 at Luton Magistrates’ Court, as well as £125 victim surcharge and £7,607.68 costs, after being prosecuted by the Care Quality Commission.

The court heard that Cheshunt Care operated without appropriate registration, as domiciliary care agencies must be registered with the CQC, so services can be monitored and inspected to ensure they are safe.

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.”

When inspectors investigated Cheshunt Care, 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.