Agency in elderly care row

One client was described as an "old witch" by the agency

An care agency for the elderly on Merseyside employed a worker even though she had no experience and false references, a TV documentary has revealed.

One of Care Connect's staff also described one of its elderly clients as an "old witch" while a colleague encouraged Fran Baker - who is in fact a journalist - to be a "bit rough" with another.

Working undercover for the BBC's Panorama programme, Ms Baker compiled evidence to suggest the agency did not follow government guidelines on employment references or staff training.

In response to the programme, being screened on Sunday, Care Connect said "a large majority" of its clients were happy with the care they received and any complaints made were taken "seriously".

In the programme the validity of one Ms Baker's references was not questioned, despite her employers being told it was old, and she was appointed on the spot at her first interview.

Fran Baker said she now fears getting old herself

Also, her first day of training was cut down to a total of 70 minutes.

One of the agency's workers told her she could not spend too much time with any particular client.

"I'm just trying to be really, really careful because she's fragile isn't she?," says Ms Baker.

But the worker replies: "No, I know but you've got to be, come on, a bit rough with her. I know its hard but otherwise you're going to be longer."

On another occasion Ms Baker rang the agency to ask them about a particular client. "What's wrong with her by the way - is she just very old?," she says.

'Thoroughly investigated'

"She's an old witch," she is told by someone at the agency, which is contracted to Sefton Council.

Care Connect said in a statement: "Our information is that a large majority of people to whom we provide home support are very satisfied with the standard of care they receive.

"That is not to say we are complacent about the quality of our services. Any complaint is treated seriously and thoroughly investigated."

Sefton Council said it has not had the opportunity to see the programme and therefore "it would be inappropriate to comment" on its findings.

The programme was being shown on BBC One at 2215 GMT.