An Abbots Langley company, which cares for vulnerable people in their homes, is still failing to provide adequate care, a second watchdog inspection has found.

Mrs Rudo Gray, based in Summerhouse Way, was inspected by the Care Quality Commission in March and April after an inspection in January resulted in enforcement action.

The most recent unannounced inspection was held to check whether Mrs Gray had taken action to meet the standards failed in the previous inspection.

The report issued in July said the service, which provides personal care and support for around 16 people at home, is now being investigated by the local authority for not improving.

The inspection found that care had not been planned and delivered to met the care needs of the people in a manner that kept people safe. This meant that the people who received the service were still at risk of injury through lack of care planning and risk assessments.

The inspectors said the service did not understand or pay due regard to their duty of care to the vulnerable people they provided a service to because they were knowingly hiring six staff with "serious" criminal records.

Hertfordshire Constabulary had written to the provider to express their concerns about one person and the fact that they may be providing care to vulnerable people in the community. The inspection in March found this person was still employed.

Other areas of concern included rostering staff who were not appropriately trained to care for people using the service, not providing staff working 24 hour shifts with breaks, staff being hired without appropriate checks and not providing enough staff to safely meet the needs of the people.

Another issue raised was the importance placed on being a business. During the time between inspections, the agency took on a new service user despite not having enough staff. When asked why, inspectors were told:"You don't expect me to turn away business do you".

Mrs Gray, who is being investigated by the local authority under the Serious Concerns process, declined to comment when approached by the Watford Observer.

Andrew Dawson at Hertfordshire County Council said: "Hertfordshire County Council does not have a contract with the provider or directly fund any service users to receive care from them.

"However, we worked with the provider and our partners in health and the Care Quality Commission to address the issues raised in the initial inspection report. It is disappointing that the provider has failed to comply with its warning notice.

"The wellbeing of those receiving care is our primary concern and together we will take steps to ensure that they receive the support they need."