A care home has been criticised after concerns were raised about the quality of care residents were receiving.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has told Middleton Lodge it requires improvement after it found parts of the home were not maintained, medicines had not been managed effectively and incomplete medical records were found.

The facility at Middleton St George, Darlington, provides personal care for 10 people with mental health issues or learning disabilities. But an assessment by inspectors rated the service’s leadership inadequate.

A CQC report following an inspection in November read: “The service did not always have enough appropriately skilled staff to meet people’s needs. People did not always receive good quality care, support and treatment because staff were not all trained to meet their needs and wishes.”

The inspection was prompted after the regulator received concerns about the care being provided. The overall rating for the service has changed from good to requires improvement.

The report added: “Care plans were not always up to date or contained the most recent information to support people with their care and support needs or one case dietary needs. People who required support with managing their diet did not have up to date plans to support this.”

Inspectors said the care home was not well-quipped or well-furnished and failed to meet the principles of support, care and culture.

“The service did not support people to have the maximum possible choice, control and independence over their own lives. People were not always encouraged to plan for aspirations and goals,” the CQC said.

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Potens, which owns Middleton Lodge, vowed to improve after reading the recent report.

A spokeswoman said: “We have and are continuing to work closely with Darlington Council and CQC to address the issues highlighted in the report. We have made significant progress against our action plans and will continue working hard to make sure that the improvements are sustained for the people living at Middleton Lodge.  

“We are committed to providing high quality care and support practices across Potens.”