AN agency caring for vulnerable people in Bolton has been told it needs to improve by inspectors.

ICRIT Healthcare was found to have breach regulations on training and governance by the Care Quality Commission.

The agency based in Chorley Old Road provides private domestic care for people around Bolton.

It was visited by inspectors in August who rated it as requiring improvement for safety, effectiveness and leadership.

Care and responsiveness were rated good but it was given an overall requires improvement rating.

In a report by inspectors it said: “People using the service had access to healthcare professionals as required to meet their needs.

“Staff had received training deemed necessary for their role. However there were shortfalls in a number of areas and in house training was not robust.”

Areas of concern were raised by Bolton Council safeguarding professionals over the records of the moving and handling of one patient.

The agency failed to respond “promptly”to a request for the records but it was noted that staff involved had been suspended and the council were investigating the matter.

ICRIT had also commissioned a physiotherapist assessment for the patient to improve care.

It was also found that not all staff had full training including managing and dealing with challenging behaviours, emergency awareness (first aid) , dementia awareness, mental capacity, equality and diversity, dignity and respect and safeguarding adult’s awareness.

There was also a “lack of robust record keeping” and inspectors ruled that the “provider had failed to provide good governance”.

The agency confirmed with inspectors that was implementing additional training following the inspection and introduced a new care record system.

However, it also found patients and families praising the work of the care staff.

The report added: “People and their relatives told us they felt safe. Feedback was positive.

“People and their relatives spoke highly of care staff and felt they were treated in a kind and caring manner.

“Risks to the health, safety and well-being of people who used the service were assessed and plans to minimise the risk had been put in place.”