A WIRRAL care home has been placed into “special measures” after it was deemed to be “inadequate” in all areas by the health watchdog.

One resident allegedly went nine months without being bathed, while bins were left overflowing and “bad odours” filled Park House care home in Birkenhead.

During a visit in the summer, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) found the Park Road South home – run by Four Seasons Healthcare – was not always safe, caring, responsive and not always well-led.

While staff were observed to be caring, warm and positive in their interactions with those living at the home, inspectors found people were not always given their privacy and dignity needs were not met.

Care records did not adequately assess people’s needs or risks or plan how to meet their needs. Records were also not up to date.

In a report of their findings, CQC inspectors said refuse bins were over-flowing in the car park and outside residents’ bedrooms.

Food was found “strewn” on the ground, with animals feeding for it.

Concerns were also found with the management of medicines at the home and administration and record keeping was unsafe. ‘Do not resuscitate’ notices were not reviewed.

“People and their relatives told us the home was short staffed. Staff confirmed this view. We saw that staff were too busy tending to people’s personal care needs to interact socially with them or meet all of their assessed needs,” said the CQC.

“This placed people’s health, welfare and safety at significant risk. We looked at records relating to the safety of the premises and its equipment, which were correctly recorded.”

Staff files showed that staff had not received appropriate training or supervision.

The CQC also said the provider Four Seasons had not complied with the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguard, with 14 residents kept locked in rooms while paperwork was completed.

Park House has now been placed in special measures and will be kept under review by the CQC.

The home manager at the time of the inspection is no longer at the home and a new general home manager and clinical home manager have been appointed, along with a new deputy manager.

A spokesman for Four Seasons said: “We are sorry that Park House did not meet the standards that we expect all of our homes to provide. We have implemented a comprehensive improvement plan, which we have discussed with the CQC and Wirral Council’s social care department. This is being overseen and supported by our senior regional management team.”

Additional nurses and carers have been recruited, with Four Seasons now reviewing staffing rotas on a daily basis.

The spokesman added: “We are supporting staff with refresher training in our processes and procedures to provide a high standard of person-centred care. We have also been reassessing care plans with residents and their relatives to ensure this happening.

“Residents, relatives, care home staff and visiting healthcare professionals are now able to give instant feedback about any aspect of our care and this is helping to drive improvements. To make comment fast and easy , we have introduced iPads into the home that are linked to purpose-designed software systems. This is part of a wider programme to improve the residents’ experience

“We are continuing to carry out a programme of refurbishment of the home.

“Our regional managing director and senior regional manager have met with residents and relatives to explain the improvements we have been putting in place and will continue to update them.”

The watchdog will inspect the home again in six months.

If things have not improved, the provider’s registration mould be cancelled.