Inspectors have found that staff at a home care provider have limited safeguarding training.
Axiom Home Care Hemel Hempstead, in Mark Road, was told person-centred care needs to be improved when Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspections were carried out between June 9 and 28.
In the report, released on August 4, it was found that the service, which provides care in people’s homes as a domiciliary care agency, "requires improvement" across all areas.
A spokesperson for the service, which opened earlier this year, told the Watford Observer it welcomes the commission's “constructive feedback” to help “shape our processes moving forward”.
At the time of the inspection, the provider was supporting seven people in their own homes. The CQC interviewed staff, patients and their families.
Inspectors found the provider did not support patients properly who needed a continence assessment, risk assessments relating to people’s safety were deemed to be “vague” and medicine administration records were not always accurately completed.
It was also found that staff’s safeguarding training was completed in one session that would normally take 20, which meant staff knowledge was not as in depth as it needed to be.
A lack of training regarding dementia was also flagged by a patient’s relative. One person said: “I don't think they have a lot of dementia training. They haven't come across it. They are learning on the job."
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However, another relative said the care provided met the changing needs and that “they 100 per cent support me [and Person]. I would be lost without them."
The provider was also found to take steps to protect people from the risk of infections as staff had access to personal protective equipment when needed.
A spokesperson for the service said: "Our dedicated team has already made improvements over the past few weeks, with additional robust measures planned.
“We are eager to reinforce our systems to enhance training, care plans, and monitoring - ensuring we continually meet the changing needs of all individuals.
“This aligns with our mission of enabling people to live joyful, dignified lives."
This was the CQC’s first inspection of the provider.
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