The company was registered in 2010 and has for several years had an agreement with Uppsala Municipality to provide home care services.

Over the years, several shortcomings have been pointed out by various bodies, including a contract follow-up in 2014. This is shown by documents SVT has read.

The problems included:

  • Procedures regarding complaints, Lex Sarah, information transfer and documentation needed to be reviewed.

  • Knowledge of the Swedish language needed to be improved.

  • The staff's right to rest had not been met.

  • Follow-up / evaluation of the implementation plan is missing in all journals.

The assessment was generally that the documentation in personal files and records did not meet the legal requirements.

But after the company submitted a new action plan, the municipality still considered that there was a development in a positive direction:

"If the business continues to conduct its systematic improvement and development work, the business is judged to meet the requirements set."

Deficiencies persisted

Even during follow-ups in 2016 and 2018, however, several shortcomings were found, including:

  • The contractor does not meet the requirements set in the agreement regarding the proportion of employees with adequate training.

  • There is a need to ensure that the business implements the initiatives of the customers that the municipality has decided on.

  • The staff take home their work telephones in their free time, which entailed a risk that unauthorized persons could enter the users' homes as the telephone also serves as a key.

  • The company does not work with the national quality register "Senior Alert" which is used to prevent injuries in the elderly.

  • Not all employees are aware of how deviations are registered, deviations are not always written, the nursing staff lacks knowledge of lex Sarah.

But again, the company had to continue its agreement with the municipality after submitting approved action plans.

The management stated, among other things, that several of the staff had begun further training and that measures had already been taken to implement the efforts that had been missed.

Got rejected by IVO

Documentation from the Swedish Health and Care Inspectorate shows that the company already in October 2014 was refused an application for a permit for personal assistance.

It was then judged that the company did not have sufficient competence in the required areas.

Despite the history, the company became part of Attendo's operations through an acquisition in 2019. It then took over all employees and management.

In an email received by the municipality in February 2019, Attendo's regional manager wrote that they wanted to

"build on the company's fine work"

.

- V wanted a more comprehensive offer to the residents of Uppsala.

It is clear that we subsequently regret that we did not make a major change in the leadership of the business, says Attendo's communications manager Andreas Koch.

Did you know that the company has previously received criticism?

- I know that there have been problems within the company and that we and the municipality talked about it in connection with the takeover.

And work was done to really check that the business was well managed once we took over.

After all, they chose to leave the then management in place?

- Yes, and it was probably such a big mistake in retrospect.

"Received the municipality's approval"

SVT has been in contact with the company's management, which emphasizes that they have always had approved agreements with the municipality.

- Of course we had some shortcomings, but we supplemented it and sent it to the municipality and got approval.

It was Attendo who wanted to buy our company, we did not go after them, says a person in the company management.

Eva Christiernin (S), chair of the senior citizens' committee, admits that she knows the company's background and is also self-critical in retrospect.

- This shows so clearly why we need to increase control over our welfare.

Here it has broken down.