A CARE home for people with mental health problems has been deemed ‘inadequate’ following an unannounced inspection.

The critical report from the Care Quality Commission into The Croft at New Kyo, near Stanley has just been published.

Inspectors found medicine profiles, which include information on residents’ allergies and their photographs ,were missing, putting patients at risk of getting the wrong medication.

Risk assessments for people’s mental and physical health were found to be absent from records and incidents were not reviewed in detail to ensure service users were safe.

The report said: “CQC requires registered services as a part of their registration to notify the commission when there are incidents of a safeguarding nature or the police are called out to a home.

“We found not all of the notifications had been made.”

The Croft cares for 25 people who suffers from a range of conditions, including personality disorders, schizophrenia, depression, bi-polar and learning disabilities.

A previous inspection in August 2014 rated the service as ‘good’ and the service met the regulatory requirements.

The ‘inadequate’ overall rating follows an inspection between December 28 and 30.

The report said: “We found areas of the home to be unclean and the decoration was in a poor state of repair. The local infection control team had visited the home in October and December.

“They had highlighted the lack of cleanliness in October and found there was no change in December.”

Inspectors found staff were caring for people without having had training to meet people’s needs.

The report said: “We found not all staff had received training in mental health.

“No staff members had received training in meeting the needs of people with learning disabilities or diabetes.

“We found in one person’s care plan the home was required to keep all doors locked to keep the person safe. During our inspection we found the front door to the home open.”

Potens, which runs the facility, said it is working with Durham County Council to improve the service.

Regional director Neil Wadge said: “Following the recent CQC Inspection findings, we have implemented a robust plan which will ensure the organisations protocols and procedures are successfully embedded at the service, and are working closely with the local authority.”