A CARE agency in Fordingbridge says it has addressed areas of concern raised by health care inspectors who rated the service as "requires improvement".

Hearts at Home Care Limited Fordingbridge, based in Avon Meade, who provide personal care and support to people in their own homes, was given an overall "requires improvement" rating by the Care Quality Commission.

It was rated "good" for how effective, caring and responsive the service was but required improvement in terms of safety and leadership.

In the report users and their families praised the service. People said they "felt safe and secure when receiving care" but raised concerns over not being provided with a weekly rota detailing which staff member would be providing their care.

Inspectors also identified "some areas for improvement" around medicines. The report said people's medicine records were not always completed appropriately and there were no checks to assess staff were competent to administer medicines. But the report said this had been reviewed and assessments would be carried out.

The report also raised concerns about the service not having a plan in place in case of emergencies covering situations where staff cannot get to people's homes due to weather conditions or sickness.

Inspectors also said there were "sufficient" numbers of staff to maintain the schedule of care and staff were "responsive to people's needs".

The report said: "People felt they were treated with kindness and said their privacy and dignity was respected.

"All people who used the service expressed great satisfaction and spoke highly of the care staff."

An issue had also been flagged up regarding incorrect handling manoeuvres being used, which the care agency said had been "investigated thoroughly" and dealt with.

Hearts at Home Care Limited Fordingbridge director Samantha Edwards said all the issues raised in the inspection report had been addressed and measures put in place.

She said: "The report itself is a lovely read. The concerns they have raised that rotas were not always sent out to the clients has been addressed. This is done fortnightly in advance.

"A business continuity plan is in place as we speak. It is being addressed and updated as we go along at the present time."

"We have taken on many new staff members. Our reputation is doing really well and we are in quite high demand. Service users themselves are really pleased with the care."

Hearts at Home hope to get outstanding in the inspection criteria in the future.

"We are really happy with how the company is developing."