HANDFORTH-based Care Plus Homecare Services is working hard to undertake improvements required by the Care Quality Commission.

So says Marie Cooper, the registered manager of the agency, which was inspected on September 18, followed by a further inspection on November 6 to gain extra information.

Care Plus Homecare Services Ltd is a domiciliary care agency provided by Careplus Homecare Services Ltd.

The office is based in Handforth, and the service operates in Handforth, Wilmslow, Alderley Edge and Congleton.

A report by the CQC following the inspection rated the agency overall as ‘requiring improvement’.

The inspection focused on five areas, and a subsequent report found the agency to be ‘good’ in terms of its safety, effectiveness and care.

In terms of whether it was responsive and well-led the report said it ‘required improvement’.

Marie Cooper said: “We are working really hard to make the required improvements.”

The service was providing ‘personal care’ to about 50 people with a range of needs during the inspection.

The report said: “The agency was previously inspected in April 2016. During the inspection we found breaches of the Health and Social Care Act 2006 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.

“We found the registered provider had failed to ensure appropriate procedures were in place to assess the needs of people using the service and to plan in detail how to meet them.

“Furthermore, we found people were not adequately protected from the risks associated with unsafe medicines management, staff had not completed all the necessary training for their role and lacked knowledge and awareness of the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

“We also noted effective systems were not in place to assess, monitor and improve the quality of the service.

“At this inspection, we found the registered provider had taken action to provide staff with the necessary training for their role and to develop their knowledge and awareness of the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

“We also found the provider had introduced an assessment framework to help identify the needs of prospective service users. “Action had also been taken to improve medication recording systems and practice.

“During this inspection we found breaches of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.

“We found effective systems were not in place to assess, monitor and improve the quality of the service.

“The managing director and registered manager were present during the two days of our inspection, and engaged constructively in the inspection process, together with other members of the office management team and staff.

“People spoken with were complimentary of the service provided and confirmed they were treated with dignity and respect, encouraged to maintain their independence and to exercise choice and control over their lives.

“Recruitment was robust with checks in place to ensure new members of staff were suitable to support people using the service.

“Staff understood their duty of care to safeguard the welfare of people using the service and the importance of promoting people's healthcare and good nutritional intake.”