CARE watchdogs have formally warned a Wirral residential home it must make urgent improvements 

The move follows an unannounced visit by Care Quality Commission inspectors to Ryecroft Private Residential Home in Meols in December.

The inspection was carried out in response to concerns from the local authority about management of medicines and staff recruitment practices.

Inspectors found the home "was not providing care which was safe, effective, caring, responsive or well led." 

A report on the watchdog's website says: "We had major concerns about the service during our visit.

"We discussed these with the new manager in post and the provider. We also made two safeguarding referrals to the local authority in relation to two people’s medication issues."

The CQC has issued three warning notices to Ryecroft Care Ltd to protect the health, safety and welfare of the residents:

• Checks carried out on staff as part of the provider’s recruitment processes had not always been carried out to an appropriate standard before staff began work at the home.

• Care and treatment was not planned and delivered in a way that ensured people's safety and welfare. Care plans did not provide sufficient detail to guide staff in how they could meet people’s needs. People did not always receive the care they required.

• Records relating to the administration of medication were poor and inaccurate, people did not always receive the medications they needed and medicines were not always stored securely.

Debbie Westhead, deputy chief inspector of adult social care in the North, said: “We found that the care provided at Ryecroft Private Residential Home fell a long way short of what we expect services to provide.

"We have told them they must take action to resolve the issues we identified.

“We continue to monitor the situation carefully and we will inspect again in the near future to ensure residents are being given the service they are entitled to expect.”

Any regulatory decision taken by the CQC is open to challenge through internal and external appeal processes.

The Globe spoke to the manager of Ryecroft, who declined our invitation to respond to the report.

We are waiting for a comment from the proprietor.