A CARE home has been told it must make improvements after concerns were raised about safety.

Willow Green Care Home, in Darlington, has been downgraded by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) following its latest inspection.

Inspectors visited the home in Eastbourne Road in January, rating the facility as "requiring improvement" and issuing a warning notice.

Among the concerns raised was that an allegation of abuse had not been investigated.

The CQC says there were "widespread and significant" shortfalls in leadership at the home, while complaints were not addressed and certain records described as "chaotic".

Keith Milton, chief executive of St Martin's Care, which runs the home, said the company was "disappointed" but was committed to making improvements.

The CQC said a staff member's concern about an allegation of abuse had not been investigated or alerted to the local safeguarding team.

Other safety issues raised include the management of medicines, with equipment not always clean and records not always accurate.

Checks made during recruitment were not always robust, while inspectors said there was "mixed feedback" on whether the service was always effectively staffed.

They added that infection control measures were not always effective and the service did not comply with fire safety regulations

They said they observed staff were respectful of people but added some investigations were ongoing unto allegations where staff had not always treated residents with dignity and respect.

However, most residents told inspectors they felt safe living at the home and staff knew people well.

Inspectors said residents' care did not always reflect their needs and preferences, people were not always protected from the risk of avoidable harm and complaints were not identified, recorded, investigated and responded to.

Systems in place were not effective in assessing and monitoring the quality and safety of the service, inspectors concluded.

Mr Milton said: "We are investing in additional training and management support for the team at Willow Green and working closely with residents and their families who are already expressing positive comments about improvements made over the last six weeks.

"We are confident that the measures we are taking, along with the support of Darlington Borough Council, the CQC and Clinical Commissioning Group, will result in swift improvements to the service, over and above those made already.

"We look forward to an early re-inspection by the CQC that we are confident will restore our previous 'good' rating.

"St Martins Care and its partners are all committed to working together to provide the best possible service at Willow Green and, primarily, ensuring that our residents enjoy safe and happy care whilst in our home."

The home had previously been rated as good.

In 2012 it was fined by the CQC after failing to properly administer medication given to elderly residents.