A CARE company embroiled in a long-running industrial dispute in Huddersfield has improved immensely, says a Government watchdog.
A report by the Commission for Social Care Inspection has praised Unique Care.
The company is paid by Kirklees Council to look after elderly people in Birkby, Fixby and Fartown.
In January Unique Care sacked 12 care workers after they went on unofficial strike in protest at the dismissal of home care manager Sonia Senior.
Four other employees who were either sick or on holiday at the time were also dismissed. Since then the 16 women have campaigned against their sackings.
The CSCI carried out an unannounced inspection in March. It found that shortfalls in staff recruitment, training and supervision were compromising care.
But an inspection on September 4 found that staff recruitment had improved considerably. Unique Care checks references and any criminal convictions of potential employees more thoroughly.
Manager Andrew Johnson is pleased. He said: “We’ve scored pretty well and met the standard in all areas.’’
He said new staff were vetted thoroughly. He added: “We ask for three references and we always speak to the last care company the person worked for. We also do a Criminal Records Bureau check.”
