A HOMECARE agency has been rapped by the Care Quality Commission for not looking after patients correctly and a lack of staff training.

In a report by the independent regulator of health and social care in England, inspectors concluded that staff were not properly trained and supervised and did not have the chance to develop and improve their skills.

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The Moor Lane-based provider, which was set up in 2007, employs 12 staff who provide care to people in their homes across the Ribble Valley.

Margaret Dewhurst, who helped to set the company up, said that a break-in a few days before the inspection resulted in files of paperwork being taken.

The registered manager said that therefore the required evidence that the CQC had asked for was not available to be viewed and that the inspectors 'assumed' that the training had not taken place.

The report said: "The registered manager confirmed appropriate processes were not currently in place to provide new employees with a structured induction training programme of learning.

"She told us that they did not think one care worker had received any induction training.

"There had been a lack of action taken at the service to provide staff training and training updates.

"Staff had not been supported to develop and update their knowledge and kills to deliver care to people safely."

The report, which was published a month after an inspection in October, also included the admission from the registered manager, Margaret Dewhurst, that her own training was out of date.

The inspectors said that they had also discovered that staff responsible for administering and supporting people with medicines had not recently received medication training.

Ms Dewhurst, speaking after the report, said: "The company is going from strength to strength and we receive more praise that negative comments.

"We are using this as a learning curve to make sure that this never happens again.

"I can't comment on the break-in.

"It's disappointing and frustrating that the inspectors have published this report because a lot of the training which it says did not happen actually did."

The agency was praised for treating people with respect, caring for people safely and providing care, treatment and support that meets people's needs.

The quality and suitability of management was also praised.