A CARE home where ‘people were not always treated with dignity and respect’ has been put in special measures by a health watchdog.

Shalden Grange Care Home in Boscombe was rated inadequate overall after an unannounced inspection by the Care Quality Commission late last year.

The inspection, which took place in December, was bought forward from the planned date after Bournemouth Council raised concerns about safeguarding.

The majority of the 32 residents living at the home are council-funded and a meeting between the council and the care home management team is due to take place today.

Now a report into inspectors’ findings has been released which reveals that medicine was not managed safely, that there were “ineffective systems to protect people from abuse” and “serious shortfalls” when it comes to fire safety.

The service – which looks after people living with dementia and those in need of personal or nursing care – was deemed inadequate in relation to four out of five questions regarding how safe, effective, responsive and well-led it is.

Inspectors identified three residents who were “at risk of harm and neglect” and made safeguarding alerts to the council.

The report also noted that the council had notified the CQC of allegations of abuse which had been investigated - but neither the registered provider or registered manager mentioned these allegations to the inspector.

According to the report staff were not always checking whether tablets were being taken by residents.

There was also “no evidence” that 11 members of staff working in the home had received “essential training or competency assessments”.

The author of the report wrote: “It is concerning that, following our inspection in September 2016, very little action has been taken to ensure people are kept safe and provided with good care.”

However inspectors said they also observed residents smiling when approached by staff, which “showed they felt relaxed and comfortable at the home”.

David Vitty, service director for adult social care at Bournemouth council, said: “A meeting will be taking place today to review the progress that Shalden Grange has made, with the aim of improving care standards. This is a routine approach to ensure that clear communication occurs across all agencies. The adult social care team have been working closely with the CQC over the concerns that have been raised but we are not looking to move any of our residents from this home.”

The home will be be kept under review and inspected again within six months. The Echo has approached Shalden Grange for comment.