HEALTHCARE watchdog, the Care Quality Commission, has criticised standards at a Tynedale care home.

After a two-day visit to Wentworth Grange, in Riding Mill, in August, inspectors have concluded the home requires improvement in three key areas – safety, effectiveness and leadership.

Residents living with dementia and cognitive impairments, in a part of the 51-bed care home known as Hampton House, were not always safe due to the absence of window restrictors to prevent them from falling from height. The garden area of the unit was also not always secure.

It was found that medicines were not always managed properly, with incidents of out of date medication being used, gaps in records and insecure storage.

Fire drills were not being carried out in line with requirements, and some staff needed training in this area.

Records were found to be disorganised and could not always be located when requested, with a medication room being used as an office.

Staff said the registered manager, Jeff Lee, was not always available to approach about day to day matters and that the service was not always well-led.

However, the assessment rated the home as good under the criteria of “caring” and “responsive”. Staff were knowledgeable and displayed kind and caring attitudes; residents enjoyed positive relationships with staff; and their privacy was maintained while being supported to live as independently as possible.

Credit was also given for the choices offered to residents and a varied activities programme.

Mr Lee, said in a statement that he was “deeply saddened” by the report which came in the midst of a “belt and braces” review of the business.

“We embarked on a major investment that will in the next few months come to fruition offering unparalleled service, environment and care to match,” he said.

“Such a commitment to change has been difficult and our inspection typically arrived when we were in the midst of the improvements and new key members of staff bedding into their new roles.”