A CARE home which failed to buy heating fuel to keep residents warm has been handed an inadequate rating by the Care Quality Commission.

Inspectors visited Keegan's Court Residential Care Home in Bishops Castle in February after receiving reports of concerns about the management and to follow up on breaches identified at the last inspection, at which the home was rates as inadequate.

The home, which can support up to 19 older people, was providing support with personal care to three people at the time of the visit, inspectors said.

But, the report said, residents were not safe from avoidable harm, with the heating having failed after the provider failed to purchase heating fuel, despite being aware that they needed to do so, resulting in the temperature falling to "an uncomfortable level".

Residents were also not protected from the risk of abuse or ill-treatment, with the provider failing to act when concerns about staff conduct were raised, and they were not treated with dignity or respect, with confidential information not secured and accessible to those without authority, while toilet doors did not close or could not be locked.

Management had failed to ensure an effective fire management plan was in place, known, and followed by staff, to assess potential risks, and to ensure there were enough suitably qualified staff available to support people at all times, the report said.

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Medicines were not safely stored and were not always given safely or as prescribed, while adequate infection control and prevention measures were not in place, and visible dirt could be seen in the home.

Checks on visitors to ensure they did not pose a risk were also not carried out, while the management team did not have clearly defined roles and responsibilities.

But, inspectors said, the provider followed safe recruitment practices and residents were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and were supported in the least restrictive way possible.

The home was given an overall rating of 'inadequate', and was also found to be inadequate in the safe, caring, and well-led categories.

We attempted to contact Keegan's Court for comment, but the number provided for the home was out of order.