A CARE home has been told it “requires improvement”by the Care Quality Commission.

Cedars Care Home in Sudbury Road, Halstead, has been told to improve in all areas of care, with one being highlighted as “inadequate”.

The other four categories “required improvement”.

The CQC judges homes in five categories – safety, effectiveness, care, responsiveness and being well-led.

The largest failing was found to be in the safety category where issues with medicines were discovered. The report states: “Some were not stored correctly which could have compromised their effectiveness and safety.

“Records were not always completed and some medicines were not given according to the prescriber’s instructions.”

In the effectiveness category, despite staff receiving adequate training, some safeguards required by legislation were not being properly followed.

In care assessment, while staff treated people with respect, the home did not ensure residents and their relatives were always involved in making decisions about their care.

In the responsiveness category,CQC again said residents’ care plans did not always contain enough detail to guide staff and some residents were unhappy that nothing was provided to suit their own interests and hobbies.

In assessing whether the service was well-led, staff were said to understand their roles and were well supported by the management team, although residents and their relatives did not feel they were actively consulted and involved in developing the service.

Despite the criticisms, the report said staff were caring and committed and the CQC saw that people were treated respectfully and their dignity was maintained.

Ajay Patel, 36, who runs the care home said: "The things that required improvement were with regards to medicine and we have taken on board everything CQC have asked.

"We have put most of the recommendations in place already."

The inspection took place on June 25 and 26 this year and the results came out on Friday, August 28.