The proprietor of a firm that previously offered accommodation to children under state care and was discovered to have “fabricated” staff vetting processes, has connections to a UK home care service provider that was previously slammed for its “dangerous” recruitment procedures.
The child and family agency, Tusla, terminated its relationship with Ideal Care Services, the firm in question, after identifying significant issues. The company, operated by Jossy Akwuobi (45), of Tyrrelstown, Dublin, was criticised for endangering young individuals by neglecting to conduct thorough background checks on its employees, faking pre-employment screenings and tampering with police vetting records. In the two years leading up to its disassociation with Tusla, Ideal Care Services received almost €9 million from the agency.
A July 2023 internal report criticised the poor level of checks carried out on potential care staff, which it deemed “grossly inadequate to shield vulnerable young individuals”.
Corporate records reveal that Mr. Akwuobi also holds a directorial position in a UK company that delivers home care support for the elderly and those with disabilities and mental health problems on behalf of local councils.
Tenda Hands Home-care, the company in question, was inspected in 2023 and was found to disregard safe recruitment procedures. Its care workers, the inspection report noted, were inadequately vetted, placing the vulnerable population at risk. The report noted that one employee, despite receiving a caution for an offense, had not been followed up on by the company, branding it unsafe to allow the employee to care for individuals unsupervised.
The company, headquartered in Harrow, England, is owned by Rita Uche Okoroba, who is also its CEO. Ms. Okoroba claims all problems identified during the inspection were immediately resolved.
Mr Akwuobi, founder of Ideal Care, has held the position of director at Tenda Hands Homecare from the start of 2022, according to official documents. He chose not to comment on his association with the business.
In the past years, Ideal Care had been notably among the most significant providers of uncertified accommodation for children in care under the banner of special emergency arrangements, a point that led to referral to the Garda on account of vetting failings pointed out by Tusla.
Even now, the company plays a role in offering home care support on behalf of the Health Service Executive (HSE) in the northern part of Dublin. In July of the past year, Tusla expressed worries about Ideal Care, specifically relating to the ‘verification of references, certifications, and Garda vetting’.
Subsequently, the HSE conducted a review of the support service offered by Ideal Care, which entailed going through documents and gathering feedback from patients who benefitted from the home care support. This investigation revealed no substantial areas of concern. The HSE North Dublin sector paid Ideal Care a total of €339,000 for the supply of home care support during 2022 and 2023.
Before establishing Ideal Care in 2018, Mr Akwuobi worked as a manager for the Peter McVerry Trust. A spokesperson for the homelessness charity affirmed that Mr Akwuobi had been a part of their team up to January 2020. He also stated that the trust had given its help to Tusla in scrutinising Ideal Care after the state agency sought out the charity’s assistance.
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