A care company providing support to more than 170 vulnerable people is “not safe”, according to a report which has rated it “inadequate”.

MiHomecare Limited’s Ilford branch, based in Southend Road, Woodford Green, provides personal care and support to 173 people in their own homes.

Inspectors from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) said MiHomecare Limited, based in Southend Road, Woodford Green, was putting patients at risk, with medicines not being managed properly and proper risk assessments not carried out.

A report published this month said relatives told inspectors medicines were “sometimes missed”, but there were no records kept of medicine errors, or that staff competency checks had been carried out.

Two relatives said they had to “watch them all the time because I don’t trust them”.

According to the document, based on an inspection carried out on July 22 last year, one relative said: “they (carers) can be in and out very quickly though not always there the time they are paid for. Sometimes they were there for 10 minutes and they put down 30 minutes.”

One person said: “Care workers aren’t rushed but they don’t usually stay the full half-hour. I don’t feel I get full value although I am charged for a full half-hour every time – but I don’t mind.”

Another described the service as a bit “hit and miss.”

“Although care workers were trained in infection control they did not robustly and consistently apply the learning,” found the report.

“These occurrences could place people at significant risk of acquiring or transferring infections.”

Despite the failings, patients said they liked their carers and were “treated with respect”, although some said they did not feel complaints had been listened to and dealt with.

Patients also they were not informed of changes of carer due to sickness. One said: “Sometimes a carer you don’t know turns up on your doorstep. I thought the office was supposed to ring you, especially for someone elderly and vulnerable, it can be frightening.”

But some carers felt they were “rushed” at times due to the short length of time allocated to calls.

The report also found carers had no guidance of how to deal with dementia patients.

Have you or a relative used MiHomecare? Call us with your experiences on 0208 477 3858.