A HINDHEAD care home rated by Care Quality Commission (CQC) last October as requiring improvement, has been placed in special measures following an overall rating of “inadequate” in its latest inspection.

Moorhouse Nursing Home will be kept under review by CQC, which can choose either to cancel the registration of the provider Ashberry Healthcare, or have an inspection again within six months.

The latest report stated: “The expectation is providers found to have been providing inadequate care should have made significant improvements within this timeframe.

“If not enough improvement is made so that there is still a rating of inadequate for any key question or overall, we will take action in line with our enforcement procedures to begin the process of preventing the provider from operating this service.”

Moorhouse, which offers convalescent, respite and palliative nursing care and can accommodate 35 residents, was rated inadequate on whether it was safe and well led.

Inspectors reported medicines were not managed safely, risk assessment processes were not being followed, and residents did not always receive care when required due to staffing levels.

Residents said they felt safe, however.

The report stated the home lacked a clear, management structure. It found organisational changes had not been managed well which had resulted in a decline in quality of service and low staff morale.

Ashberry managing director Nigel Denny said: “The inspection found the service to be inadequate or requiring improvement in five domains, namely ‘safe’, ‘effective’, ‘caring’, ‘responsive’ and ‘well-led’.

“The company recognised earlier this year there were some shortcomings with both the management and record keeping at Moorhouse and subsequently appointed a new team to improve the management and delivery of service to Moorhouse residents.

The new management team had already carried out an internal audit and drafted an action plan ahead of the inspection.

“During and since the inspection, Ashberry Healthcare and the Moorhouse staff have worked very closely with the CQC and other regulatory bodies to ensure the ongoing care and safeguarding of Moorhouse residents. The action plan was agreed with the CQC and is being updated regularly and shared with regulators.

“The company continues to liaise whenever required with various healthcare professionals who are routinely visiting the home, and who are noticing the good progress being made.

“Moorhouse staff were briefed immediately following the feedback from the inspection and made aware of the actions necessary to achieve compliance.”

Extra staff have been drafted in and the management team met with residents and relatives prior to the report’s publication and advised them of the content and actions being taken, he added. Mr Denny was “confident” Moorhouse would achieve the necessary levels of compliance in all five areas identified as requiring improvement.