A CARE home which has twice been condemned as inadequate by inspectors in the space of four months says “radical action” is being taken to ensure improvements.

Redworth House, in Byerley Road, Shildon, County Durham, was rated inadequate in all categories by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in a recently published report which followed an inspection in February and March.

In March a previous report based on an inspection last autumn said Redworth, which has 57 residents, was providing poor care, branding it as inadequate across several areas.

Then an inspection team found the home, which is operated by the Shaftesbury Care Group, was not clean, while staff did not have up-to-date training, medicines were not managed safely and the building was not well maintained.

The latest report found

:: Medicines with a sedative effect being given to some residents to control their behaviour without sufficient safeguards

:: Some people had their medication for serious illnesses delayed for significant periods while others received too much and subsequently displayed the symptoms of an overdose

:: Equipment was removed from some residents resulting in them developing pressure ulcers

:: Suspected abuse of residents had not been reported to the local safeguarding authority

:: Appropriate standards of cleanliness and hygiene were not being maintained, increasing the risk of infection

Inspectors said the home was not well run, operational procedures were disorganised and there was ineffective monitoring from bosses.

The CQC said the provider had not made improvements to the quality and safety of its services in a timely fashion despite warning notices being issued following the previous inspection and it remained in breach of healthcare regulations.

Debbie Westhead, the CQC’s deputy chief inspector of adult social care in the North, said:

“We found that the care provided at Redworth fell a long way short of what we expect.

“It is unacceptable that the provider has allowed the service to deteriorate in this way and that sufficient improvements were not made following our previous visit.

“We are now taking further action in relation to this provider and will report on this when it is completed."

A spokeswoman for the home’s owners said: “Since this inspection several months ago, we have taken radical and comprehensive action to ensure significant and sustainable improvements at the home.

“A new manager and regional manager are in place and the home is receiving continuous support as it implements an action plan to address the matters raised by the CQC.”