Mears Care has scrapped its contract with Hampshire County Council in Fareham and Gosport

Mears Care - which runs home visits for almost 300 adults in the Fareham and Gosport areas - has scrapped its contract with county council chiefs in the wake of a damning report from health watchdogs criticising them for poor performance.

Now Hampshire County Council is desperately working with two new providers to ensure frail and elderly clients are sufficiently cared for.

It comes as it is revealed that overstretched carers were repeatedly late to clients' houses, rushed so much they broke crockery, were unable to wash people in time for appointments and sometimes failed to turn up at all - leaving clients languishing in their homes.

Mears Care Fareham's decision to quit the service follows the organisation being put in special measures by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) after inspectors deemed it "inadequate" during a spot check revealing severe staff shortages, poor training and management.

And it comes as it is revealed the firm was struggling to meet the demands of a council contract tripling the amount of clients it had to deal with as part of a shake-up of social care.

Now council chiefs stress two new organisations have been appointed to take over - while Mears say the jobs of 90 care employees are safe.

The newly published report scores the provider as "inadequate" in two key areas relating to safety and leadership.

It is also rated as "requiring improvement" in care, effectiveness and responsiveness.

Inspectors swooped between October 22 and November 2 when authorities interviewed clients, family members and staff at the service - part of the Mears Group.

It came six months after numbers of service users soared from around 100 to almost 300 people - and involved the quadrupling of care hours in just two months.

The report stated: "During the period of service expansion, the provider had failed consistently to deploy sufficient numbers of suitable staff to support their needs and preference."

Findings included:

• Carers arriving up to an hour late.
• One person missing three medical appointments due to carers arriving late.
• A person having insufficient time to shower before a hospital appointment due to late carers.
• Carers missing one person on two mornings and two nights, resulting in them sleeping in a chair

There was evidence of half hour visits being slashed to just 15 minutes, while the service was so short-staffed the care workers were drafted in from London, put up in hotels and used taxis to get to their calls, the report revealed.

One client accused carers of "rushing about" and added: "They have broken several cups and pulled the curtain down".

The report also revealed insufficient training and supervision with concerns over the management of medicine, while and complaints were raised over some carers' food hygiene and ability to prepare simple meals.

There was also "poor communication" between managers and staff and service users, high levels of absence and difficulties covering shifts, the report found.

On the whole users found staff were were "polite, kind and respectful", but that temporary staff drafted in were unable to establish friendly and caring relationships, it was said.

Mears Executive Director Alan Long said: “Due to the nature of the contract we found it difficult to deliver our normal high standard of service.

“Having discussed the matter further with the council, we agreed that the contract would be better carried out by another provider and we are working closely with the council to ensure that the transfer of work is done as sensitively as possible. We apologise sincerely to anybody who has been inconvenienced or affected by this.”

He said staff will move under TUPE arrangements to the new provider with no jobs at risk.

Council executive member for adult social care Councillor Liz Fairhurst said Mears had agreed to withdraw their contract in November, and added: "We have been working closely with the management team at Mears Care over the past few months to ensure that appropriate and safe care at home support is provided to our clients.

"We have appointed two new providers to deliver care at home services and are working with all three to ensure a smooth handover for those receiving support at home."

OPPOSITION councillors have called for an urgent inquiry into the collapse of care services by Mears Care.

Hampshire County Council member Councillor Peter Chegwyn said company's decision to scrap its contract is "worrying " for both service users and their families.

Now he is demanding an investigation takes place to ensure lessons can be learned.

Councillor Chegwyn, for Gosport Hardway, said : "My concern is for the 300 people affected. It's still going to cause a great deal of upheaval as its a worrying situation.

"This needs a full investigation at county level and a change in policy on the care of vulnerable people. The company and the county council have serious questions to answer.

He said adult social care is struggling due to the impact of savage Government cuts and the increase in private care providers running services.

He added: "More and more these care providers are taking on things that the county used to do itself and aren't being given the adequate resources.

"People aren't getting the care they need and deserve.

"These 300 people are human beings with specific needs and the county needs to look at it urgently."