A CARE home has been told it will remain in special measures after inspectors rated it inadequate for the second time in six months.

Thelwall Grange Care Home has received its second critical inspection from the Care Quality Commission in the space of just over six months after it was found to have committed nine breaches of the Health and Social Care Act.

The Weaste Lane care home, which is registered to provide accommodation for up to 43 older people with personal or nursing care needs, was stopped from admitting new residents after the last inspection and will remain in special measures following five comprehensive unannounced inspection between October and January.

A previous inspection in September 2015 found that the home was failing to meet legal requirements after a whistleblower raised concerns about poor standards of care – inspectors found that residents were at risk of weight loss and sinks in a sluice room were stained with faeces.

At the time of the inspection the home told the Warrington Guardian that it was addressing issues raised in the Care Quality Commission’s report, but many issues remain unaddressed.

The new report said the residents were ‘not always treated with dignity and respect’ and staff often did not engage with them as they were busy.

Residents were referred to disrespectfully in medical notes, with one described as ‘selfish’.

The home had not had a registered manager in post since September 2015 and there were also concerns about the experience of staff – no clinical lead was employed at the home and there was only one qualified nurse.

Meanwhile, inductions and training for staff were found to be inadequate.

A strong ‘malodour’ was reported at the home, which had been successfully prosecuted by the Cheshire Fire Service for failing to comply with safety regulations – Care Quality Commission inspectors found that fire doors were faulty while risk assessment were outdated.

Residents were at risk of scalding due to extremely hot, uncovered radiators and water temperatures in excess of 55c – issues that were present during the last inspection.

One person’s bedroom had no water supply to their basin while there was no hot water in one of the communal bathrooms.

Checks on residents and the food and drink that was given to people were found to be inaccurate Patients were found to be at risk of developing pressure sores while one unwell resident was observed to be left unattended for several hours by staff.

Another resident was forced to use a mobile phone to ring the home as staff did not answer their buzzer.

One of the 26 residents currently living at Thelwall Grange told inspectors: “I could complain but there isn’t any use because I know they haven’t got any staff to remedy things.”

The home is now being monitored by Warrington Borough Council and Warrington Clinical Commissioning Group but the embargo on the home has been lifted due to remedial action taken.

Thelwall Grange Care Home was run by Smallwood Homes Limited during the two inadequate ratings but Staffordshire Care Limited completed a takeover last week.

Director Robert Evans said they had embarked on a major renovation scheme and implemented a new management team at the home.

The home will also stop taking nursing residents with a greater focus on residential clients, while the new owners also plan to extend Thelwall Grange with an additional 24 bedrooms.

Mr Evans added: “I have known the home for around four years and the issue has been a complete lack of investment in both the environment and the staff.

“I am a great believer that you must invest in the home and there is a direct correlation between the investment made and the occupancy of the home.

“Over 90 per cent of the items on the Care Quality Commission action plan will have been completed this week.”

Mr Evans anticipated that a reinspection would take place within the next month.