Care firm that once won 'outstanding' rating is downgraded to inadequate after staff climbed out windows to smoke

Dedicated Care East Anglia, a King's Lynn provider serving adults with physical and learning disabilities, has been placed in special measures after the Care Quality Commission identified breaches of five legal regulations. Following an August inspection triggered by concerns about care quality, the CQC downgraded the firm from outstanding to inadequate. Among the failings, inspectors found that staff used defective equipment on clients, failed to flag safeguarding concerns, and left vulnerable people without adequate risk assessments for blood-thinning medication.

In one case, a staff member climbed out of a window to smoke while the person in their care was 'visually distressed' — and no investigation into the incident ever followed.

CQC deputy director Hazel Roberts said leaders failed to assess whether staff had 'the right skills to keep people safe' and did not listen to concerns about safety.

Dedicated Care East Anglia described itself as 'deeply disappointed', arguing the rating did not capture the 'positive feedback' it had received from service users and families.