TWO care homes for the elderly have been given notice to improve following unannounced inspections.

Whitegates Care Home in Gravel Lane, Ringwood, was marked as requiring improvement following an inspection in July which highlighted problems with out of date and incomplete staff training, and an ineffective system for recording feedback.

At Blandford Grange Care Home in Milldown Road, Blandford, in June, inspectors from the Care Quality Commission noted deficiencies in the provision of meals to residents, and called for improvements to care plans and staff training attendance.

Dominque Kennedy, manager of Whitegates, said she was confident the problems had been resolved.

"The new regulations are quite tough so were were actually quite pleased with the report," she said.

"The inspectors were satisfied that we did have genuine reasons for being behind with training, and we now carry out a staff survey in addition to patient feedback.

"We have an action plan in place, and we are always looking for ways to make the home better."

Whitegates - at the time of the inspection home to 14 elderly people - was praised by those residents interviewed by inspectors.

They said care workers were kind and responsive to their needs, while the report also noted that risk assessment systems, care plans and general level of care were rated as 'good'.

At Blandford Grange, which housed 39 people at the time of the inspection, the inspectors' report also said residents "engaged positively" with staff.

Concerns were raised over meal times and residents' nutritional needs, along with staff training.

Wendy Walsh, regional director of Life Style Care Ltd, which runs the home, said: "We have new management and have put into place brand new training and a completely different way of auditing where I carry out visual audits.

"The home was using a lot of agency staff, but we have vigorously recruited new staff and improved the pay structure.

"We were ahead of the problems before the inspection but have completely overhauled things since."

The CQC inspections follow a change in the regulations by which adult social care services are required to abide. Homes rated 'requires improvement' are expected to submit an action plan stating how they will rectify any issues.

Services rated as 'inadequate' must take immediate action, and face possible enforcement action by the regulator.