Care watchdog fines home care firm £44,000 for illegally operating for five years

A home care company which had been illegally operating for five years has been fined £44,003 by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The owners of Golden Years Caring at Home, were prosecuted by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) after it was discovered it had been operating since March 2015 without registering with the watchdog.

The company’s directors were fined £34,833 at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court on 10 June. They were also ordered to pay £9,000 in costs and a £170 victim surcharge.

It is one of the largest fines ever given to an unregistered provider by the CQC.

Golden Years Caring at Home had been providing personal care to people living in their own homes in the community since 2 March 2015.

The care watchdog was informed by Portsmouth City Council about the Portsmouth-based firm in September 2017

In September 2017, the CQC was informed by Portsmouth City Council about the Portsmouth-based firm, which was not registered from October 2017 to September 2019.

Despite attempts by the firm to register, the watchdog refused the operator’s registration on the grounds that it failed to meet the regulator’s care quality standards.

The company pleaded guilty before the hearing, admitting it had carried out regulated activity without registration, breaching section 10 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

'Hope size of this fine' sends a message

Joyce Frederick, the CQC’s deputy chief inspector of registration, said: “Providers of personal care services deal with people whose circumstances 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.

“The law requires care agencies to register with the Care Quality Commission to protect people needing care in their own homes. It ensures all care providers are monitored and inspected, meaning safe care and treatment is maintained.

“This is one of the largest fines handed out to an unregistered provider. I would hope the size of this fine would send a very clear message to anyone thinking of operating a service without registering with the Care Quality Commission.”

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