(Image: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire)
A York care service has been placed in special measures after a watchdog deemed it “unsafe”.
Allot Healthcare Services York, run by Allot Healthcare Services Ltd, was rated “inadequate” overall after an inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
CQC’s deputy director of operations for adult social care, Amy Jupp, said it was “concerning to see leadership weaknesses had declined further” since its previous inspection in 2022, leading to people “receiving unsafe and inappropriate care”.
Allot Healthcare Services Ltd has been approached for comment.
The Clifton Moor-based domiciliary care agency provides personal care to people in their own homes.
It had previously been rated “requires improvement” overall when the CQC inspected the service in June 2022.
Fifty-one people were receiving care by Allot Healthcare Services York during the 2022 inspection, but CQC did not say how many people were being cared for during its three-day inspection in August 2026.
CQC said it placed Allot Healthcare Services York in special measures, meaning it will be kept under close review by the watchdog to “keep people safe”.
The watchdog said it will also monitor the service to “check sufficient improvements have been made”.
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Ms Jupp said people, relatives and staff told the inspectors “about poor communication, continuity of care and timekeeping” at the service.
“Several relatives described difficulties contacting the office, receiving support from familiar carers and not being informed of changes to visits,” she said.
“Allot’s own surveys, complaints records and audits identified similar themes, including staff lateness, inconsistent staffing and communication failures, but leaders hadn’t taken action to address these issues.”
Care service bosses 'failed to escalate safeguarding incidents' - CQC director
Ms Jupp added that leaders at the service “failed to escalate safeguarding incidents, including people’s injuries, to relevant authorities to reduce people’s risk and keep them safe from future harm”.
In one case, a person suffered a head wound and three other health episodes on the same day, none of which was escalated, Ms Jupp said.
She said relatives complained that “some staff weren’t properly trained, and some didn’t know how to support people or use care equipment safely”, adding: “It was particularly concerning to see leaders have such a poor grasp of staff training and capability.”
“This led to risks such as seizures, falls, skin deterioration, nutrition, bowel health and pressure care not being recognised or reviewed effectively which placed people at serious risk of harm and deterioration,” she said.
Ms Jupp said CQC has told Allot Healthcare Services York bosses the watchdog expects to see “rapid, and continued improvements and will continue to monitor the home closely to keep people safe during this time”.
“We have begun the process of taking regulatory action in order to protect people further.”