YOU would like to think that councils think very carefully about the agencies and workers they expect to look after our vulnerable and elderly residents.
These days we have a system in which a lot of care is tendered out to the private sector, in the belief that it offers better value for money.
They do a wonderful job in many cases – but in others they are found wanting.
Last year a firm called Unique Care was subject to a damning report by the Commission for Social Care Inspections.
Councillors refused to admit the deficiencies, let alone deal with them.
Today the Examiner reports on the sad plight of Moazam Kashif, a 19-year-old Huddersfield lad who is terminally ill with a rare genetic disorder.
His care was in the hands of independent provider Active, but on many occasions staff simply failed to turn up.
The company has now washed its hands of Moazam, citing the non-availability of staff suitably trained to meet his specialist needs.
This could – and should – have been foreseen from the very beginning in a thorough assessment of his wants.
It cannot be easy to deal with the care needs of extreme cases like Moazam, but his parents were effectively left to cope themselves.
We cannot continue to leave people floundering.
The proper checks and balances must be in place – and brought into play efficiently and swiftly.
Essentially, we are in a situation where the social care system is at breaking point through chronic under-funding.
This is a disgraceful state of affairs and shows the gap between need and provision is growing ever wider.
It is a depressing side to our society.
