A home care service has been told it ‘requires improvement’ after issues raised in relation to staff prompted a targeted inspection by the health watchdog.  

Examining the risks posed to patients, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) identified “concerns” regarding staff training and recruitment at Homecare1st in Bracknell.  

These initial findings led to the inspection being widened to focus on safety and leadership.  

The report, which was published on November 4, concluded that the safety and leadership of the facility ‘requires improvement’ - a downgrade from the prior inspection, published in February 2021, where it was awarded a rating of ‘good’.  

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It found that medicines were “not always handled and recorded correctly and safely”, with staff sometimes not including the required information. 

The inspector noted that patients care plans did not always include enough information and guidelines to help staff provide care “in a safe and individualised way, based on people’s needs, likes and the support they required”.  

For one person at risk of cardiovascular disease, the reduction measures for the care workers stated them to “read and follow the care plan and risk assessment”.  

However, the inspector found that there was “no further information within the risk assessment document for staff to know the actions to take to mitigate the risk”. 

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Patients and relatives felt the staff supported them well. However, the inspector believed improvements could be made regarding the timings of the visits as staff did not always arrive on time to provide care.  

One patient told the inspector: "We have always had issues with the timings really. We were told it would be 15-30 minutes leeway [on agreed times] but I often have to call to see where they are."   

Another person said: "I have to say, the timings are not brilliant […] Very occasionally they will call if they are going to be late, but not often."  

The report did note that people felt safe with the staff providing their care and “understood their responsibilities to raise concerns and report incidents or allegations of abuse”.  

Staff also followed procedures to control the spread of infection using personal protective equipment and risks were assessed and managed effectively.  

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Homecare1st is a care agency which provides support to people in their own homes. At the time of the inspection, 30 people were receiving personal care from the service.  

The unannounced inspection of the care provider's offices, at Venture House on Arlington Square, took place between September 7 and September 23.  

To carry out the assessment, CQC spoke to members of staff – including managers, administrators and care staff – and reviewed a range of records including for patients, staff, management and medicines.  

Homecare1st were approached for comment.