A CARE home has been plunged into special measures after unexplained bruising appeared on a resident while another missed seven doses of medication.

During its latest inspection, Stambridge Meadows was rated inadequate by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), after inspectors found that staff couldn’t recognise or respond appropriately to abuse within the home.

The owners of the home, in Rochford, have hit back at the report, saying it is a “well-run caring home with the welfare of the residents at its heart”.

The report explicitly points to a resident’s unexplained bruising along with a separate incident, in April 2019.

And one resident at the home also told inspectors how they could wait as long as half an hour before being taken to the toilet after a request.

In the inspection report, which was published on May 19, the CQC also said the environment on the first floor wasn’t appropriate for people living with dementia because of a lack of visual clues and prompts, including signs using both pictures and text.

Inspectors also found not all residents received their prescribed medication as they should, with one missing five doses of one medication and two doses of another medication – this was not an isolated case.

Although people had told inspectors they felt safe, one said “At one time I had this person coming in to my room uninvited, but they’ve been moved upstairs, I hope that’s permanent.”

Infection control arrangements were managed well and PPE items, including gloves, aprons and liquid soap, were provided to staff.

Following the unannounced inspection, which took place in January, the home has now been put into special measures, meaning it will be kept under review and will be re-assessed within six months.

In terms of being effective, caring and responsive, CQC rated the home as requires improvement.

A spokesperson from Stambridge Meadows, said: “We are disappointed, and not a little surprised, by the outcome of the inspection. Our robust internal monitoring procedures highlight a well-run, caring home with the welfare of the residents at its heart. However, we are not complacent and will, of course, carefully review the inspector’s feedback and put in place an action plan to ensure that on re-inspection the home receives the positive grading we believe it deserves.”