York care home in special measures..

A York care home, which caters for up to 80 older people, has been placed into special measures after an inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

CQC inspectors described the care home in the city’s Acomb area as 'inadequate' in three areas, including safety, and as 'requiring improvement' in two others, following an inspection in August 2015.

A report said the service had not had a registered manager since December 2013, people were at risk of acquired infections, trips and falls, some areas were not cleaned to a hygienic standard and staff did not receive effective training or supervision.

Staff said they did not have time to get to know new people, with one saying: "Everything is rushed because of the lack of staff."

A spokesman for South Park's owner, Four Seasons Healthcare, Cheshire, which has 350 homes across the UK, said it was sorry care had fallen well below the standards it expected to provide and it took this most seriously. He said a regional manager had already identified the need for improvements ahead of the inspection and an action plan had started.

"We now have a new very experienced acting home manager in place and we have created two new positions of unit managers, who will closely supervise each of our two care units and support staff to carry out our policies and procedures to maintain quality of care. We are also supporting staff with enhanced training in personalised care and specialist dementia care."

He said a refurbishment had started, a recruitment programme was continuing and the home was committed to delivering 'person-centred care' that met each resident's individual needs and preferences.

York City Council added that South Park had seen considerable improvements and it understood there were plans for substantial investment in the facilities.