AN EAST Dorset care home has been placed in special measures after inspectors discovered a string of regulations breaches, including three safeguarding alerts during the inspection.

Inspectors from the Care Quality Commission noted ‘stained carpets and offensive odours’ in some areas of the Waypoints Home in Ringwood Road, Verwood, which was caring for 37 people at the time of their unannounced visit last November.

“We found that risks of people falling or developing pressure sores were not safely managed and this placed people at increased risk of harm,” said the CQC’s report.

“People did not always receive safe care and treatment because there were not enough staff to meet their assessed needs. The service was using agency staff daily and this meant that staff did not always know people well.”

It also meant that during the week there was only one member of the activity staff available for 37 people and no one covering weekends.

“People told us that there were not sufficient staff,” said the CQC. “One relative told us "sometimes at weekends they are really low on staff. There's not always someone on reception so it's difficult to get in". Another said ‘there are not enough staff and lots of agency staff’.”

Inspectors said that people did not always receive their medicines as prescribed and this included issues with recording, times that medicines were given, and incidences where people did not receive their medicines.

“Fire checks were in place but there were not enough staff with sufficient fire training at weekends and people did not always receive joined up care because the home didn't consistently work with external professionals,” it said.

Inspectors found that permanent staff knew residents very well and were kind and compassionate. “Relatives told us that they were able to visit when they chose and were welcomed,” said the CQC.

Andrew Baxendine, managing director of the Waypoints Care Group, said he was "obviously very disappointed" with the CQC's report.

"Since the time of the inspection in November 2017 the home has been working closely with the Dorset CCG, Dorset County Council and CQC on an action plan to remedy the issues raised; all parties are very happy with the progress being made," he said.

"The only enforcement action that has been taken by CQC is that the home is to report monthly on the progress of the action plan, which we are doing. All relatives and staff were made fully aware of the outcome of the CQC inspection and subsequent action plans put in place and are all fully supportive."

"Waypoints’ other Dorset home in Upton has a ‘Good’ CQC rating and has recently received its highest rating ever from a separate audit from another independent organisation; our Verwood Home previously received a ‘Good’ CQC rating, so we are working hard on our action plan to get our Home back to its usual high standards.”