Missed visits and insensitive responses to complaints are not what you would expect from the providers of social care. And yet, this is what has happened with one provider, who has been suspended from receiving new cases while there is an investigation into what went wrong with the care provision for a resident of St. Albans.

Chris White, Leader of the opposition Lib Dem Group on Herts County Council, said: ‘This is not the first time that there have been serious issues with care providers in this county. Yet again, the Conservative-controlled County Council has failed to provide an adequate service.

‘When looking after vulnerable people in the community, commissioning reliable providers of social care from the private sector must be a top priority for Hertfordshire County Council,’ said Chris.

‘While there is an investigation into this provider, what action is being taken within the Council to ensure that this is an isolated example of inadequate service from the Council’s many providers? This is an especially relevant issue, given the present search for new ways of working within Adult Care Services.’