TWO care homes for people with learning disabilities have been required to improve following recent CQC inspections.

Helene Lodge, in Talbot Road, Bournemouth, was cited by inspectors following a visit in July which found some work required to repair facilities, noted at an earlier inspection in January, had not been carried out.

However, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) report noted that improvements had been made to ensure hot water from taps was at a suitable temperature and that staffing provision was adequate to meet residents' needs.

Deerhurst, in Deerleap Way, New Milton, was also given a 'requires improvement' rating following an inspection which found that residents did not always have opportunities to access activities outside the home due to "minimal" staffing.

The home was also cited for its management of residents' nutritional needs, although it was otherwise praised for maintaining a "positive and caring atmosphere" in the CQC report.

Helene Lodge had been contacted for comment at the time of going to press but it had failed to respond for comment.

Claire Norris, managing director of Contemplation Care Ltd, which runs Deerhurst, said: "We have put an action plan in place on all these issues, and had already dealt with weight management."

She said the expectations of the CQC regarding residents' access to activities were based on an "ideal situation" and that sometimes this differed from what the home had been asked to provide.

The CQC inspections follow changes in the regulations affecting adult social care providers.

Deborah Ivanova, CQC's Interim Deputy Chief Inspector for Adult Social Care, said: "If we find that a service requires improvement we will expect them to provide us with a full plan setting out how they will address the issue.

"We will share our findings with local commissioners, and we will return in due course to check that they have made the required improvements."

Services can be rated as outstanding, good, requires improvement or, if they are failing, inadequate.