TWO ex-employees at a company which has been accused of failing to provide adequate care for people with mental health problems fears that "something awful" could happen.
The pair say they left Carmand following fears over their personal safety and a lack of support from management.
As reported, the company runs five care homes across Grimsby, Cleethorpes, Humberston and Brigg.
It comes as the Care Quality Commission (CQC), which uncovered a series of failings at three of the properties earlier this year, revealed a team of seven staff had returned to the homes last week to carry out further inspections.
"One of the clients threatened to harm himself and make allegations that I had done it," said the first ex-employee, who worked as a home co-ordinator at Carmand for eight months, leaving in May.
"It was a nightmare.
"I felt isolated and alone. I honestly felt like I could be in danger."
The employee, who had six years of prior experience of working with vulnerable people, added: "It seemed to me that things weren't right from my first day.
"I thought I would be working with an experienced member of staff while I learnt the ropes, but I was chucked in at the deep end and was on my own.
"I was supposed to be given training, but it consisted of being stuck in a room with some DVDs and then given a questionnaire to fill in, which somebody was telling us the answers to.
"I honestly believe Carmand needs closing. In this line of work you get taught certain core values and ethics and that it should be a person-centred approach to care, but Carmand doesn't have that."
Other allegations made by the ex-employee include lone female workers being threatened by male clients with a history of sexual offending, and continual errors with medication.
The second former employee, who worked for Carmand for two years as a support worker and left in April, added: "It became very stressful working in such a challenging environment without the necessary support.
"I believe what Carmand really needs is to get more competent, experienced staff to work in the areas in which clients struggle, but there is a complete absence of that.
"There is a constant flirtation with the boundaries of what is acceptable. I fear it could only be a matter of time before something awful happens."
However, Carol Faniyi, forensic psychologist practitioner and director of Carmand, said many of the issues raised by the former employees have been addressed since they left.
She added: "In the last month we have done 125 sets of staff training and have employed two external staff training providers.
"Our staffing ratios have always been good and we have regular staff meetings to listen to staff and understanding where they need additional support.
"The property where we used to have a lone worker has now been changed and isn't like that anymore. We've had a shuffle around.
"We are genuinely doing all we can to make staff feel supported and that they have the training they need."
A spokeswoman for the CQC said that findings from the latest inspections are being put into a report, which will be published in due course.
As reported, the CQC previously discovered a catalogue of failings after visiting three of Carmand's five properties in the area – Amber House in Grimsby Road, Humberston, and Topaz House and Sapphire House in Grimsby Road, Cleethorpes.
Inspections carried out in February found, among other things, that staff using "unlawful or excessive control" to restrain patients and two new members of staff being left to care for four people with very complex needs, including a history of self-harm.
ON THE WEB: Read more about past criticism of Carmand at www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/health
