Care provider fined for running unregistered service

A Stockport home care agency company has been ordered to pay more than £18,000 after providing a service without being registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Motiv8ed Support Limited appeared before Manchester Magistrates’ Court on November 12 after pleaded guilty to carrying out a regulated activity (the provision of personal care) without CQC registration at a previous hearing.

The company was fined £15,000, ordered to pay £3,000 prosecution costs and a £170 victim surcharge following the case brought by CQC.

CQC was informed that Motiv8ed Support Limited was providing personal care unregistered by Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council in 2018.

The council discovered the offence following a review of its Individual Service Fund agreements with providers of personal care.

The review included an audit of support plans, which showed Motiv8ed Living Support was providing personal care.

The court heard that CQC informed Motiv8ed Support Limited that providing personal care without registration was a criminal offence in May 2018.

Despite this, Motiv8ed Support Limited continued to operate without registration for a further five months.

In total, the service carried out personal care unregistered, to at least three people, for almost a year.

CQC said, in doing so, the company exposed service users to the risk of harm and was a significant cause of harm to one of them.

The court heard care delivered to one person was so poor it contributed to the person becoming reclusive and suffering anxiety attacks.

Joyce Frederick, CQC’s deputy chief inspector for registration, said: ‘The impact that poor care had on one person using Motiv8ed Support Limited’s service, and the risk the company put others at, is deeply upsetting.

‘This is why providers of personal care must register with CQC. Under section 10 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008, it is a criminal offence not to register a service proving personal care to people.

‘When services like Motiv8ed Support Limited fail to register with us it means we are unable to check that care being provided meets the standards people should be able to expect and that people are safe.

‘This is why it is vital providers of services ensure they are registered with CQC before delivering care.’

In October 2020, at Stockport Magistrates’ Court, Motiv8ed Support Limited pleaded guilty to providing personal care, between 5 October and 12 October 2018, without being registered with CQC.

Joyce Frederick added: ‘Owners of care services can face up to 12-months imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine if they provide a service without registration. Where we find services that are not registered, we will take legal action, such as that taken against Motiv8ed Support Limited.

‘We hope that this serves as a warning to other providers of personal care that they must make sure they are appropriately registered with CQC before they carry out their service or care to people.’

Motiv8ed Support Limited is no longer in operation.

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