A care agency which helps patients in their homes in Southampton put patients at risk, according to its first ever inspection.

On March 7, Care Quality Commission inspectors found that while BeHappy@Home patients were treated with dignity and respect, not all staff had completed the training for their roles and those in their care had not always received their medicine properly.

This placed people at risk of receiving inappropriate or unsafe care, the inspection report said.

The agency, based at Fairways House, Mount Pleasant Road, was given 'requires improvement' overall and told to improve in three areas: the service’s safety, effectiveness and leadership.

In response, the agency said it had "diligently addressed the areas highlighted for improvement" in the six months following the inspection.

READ MORE: Josben Care rated 'requires improvement' by CQC

Inspectors identified concerns in relation to staff's recording of medication administration and training records.

The report said: “The provider had reported seven medication incidents to the local authority safeguarding team within the last year.

“Although the provider was not responsible for all incidents, they could not demonstrate people were always receiving their medicines when they should."

Staff were also not following national guidance and best practice around giving people their medicine.

The report also found that “staff did not receive appropriate support and training to carry out their duties safely. This placed people at risk of receiving inappropriate or unsafe care.”

Despite issues being found, feedback from people and relatives was that “the registered manager, their staff, and the provider's management displayed caring and person-centred values".

The report went on to say: “People were supported and treated with dignity and respect. Staff used accessible ways to communicate with people which were personalised to meet their needs.”

In response, a spokesperson for the agency said: “While we take immense pride in the care and compassion we provide, we acknowledge that our recent inspection by CQC in March 2023 revealed areas where we fell short in terms of providing concrete evidence of the safety and effectiveness of our services.

“At the time, we were in the midst of transitioning to digital systems, which unfortunately hindered our ability to showcase the full extent of our capabilities.

"Despite this setback, the inspector noted our unwavering dedication to delivering a caring and responsive service.”

The spokesperson added: “It is important to note that the report being published now comes after six months since our inspection, during which time we have diligently addressed the areas highlighted for improvement.

"With unwavering determination, we eagerly anticipate our next inspection to showcase the incredible progress we have made and to demonstrate our unwavering commitment to excellence.”

BeHappy@Home Southampton is a non-profit agency which started at the beginning in February 2020, providing community wellbeing services and companionship services for people of all ages.