Inspectors have kept a care home in special measures after finding "serious shortfalls" remained in the service.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) team returned to the Phoenix Residential Care Home in Chatham after it was rated inadequate following an inspection earlier this year.

But in a new report following their revisit in August, inspectors said they remained unhappy with the care offered to residents at the home - which looks after 13 people including some who have dementia.

The team found risks posed to individuals were "not always assessed and managed" to ensure residents remained safe.

Medicines were also not stored safely and inspectors found many drugs had not been kept at the "correct temperatures to maintain their efficiency".

Residents and their relatives had noted to inspectors they were satisfied with levels of care received at the home in Maidstone Road.

But the CQC also reported some areas were not kept clean and there had not been adequate plans to ensure the home was free from unpleasant odours.

'At this inspection not enough improvement had been made and the provider was still in breach of regulations...'

They also said managers had failed to make sure people had "a homely and individual bedroom to create a pleasant and personal environment".

Residents had been assessed for their most appropriate care needs, inspectors said it was not always "robust" or reviewed often enough to ensure their care remained safe.

Inspectors also found breaches relating to staff not completing updated food safety and food hygiene courses.

The report, published on the CQC website last week, notes a lack of staff employed on the night shift to ensure people could get out of the building in the case of an emergency.

It added staff training had improved but there "were still areas for concern" relating to the skills staffed needed to provide effective and safe care. The care home provider had also not carried out all their own required training.

The home's infection control practices were also criticised by inspectors who said it was not always following the latest Covid-19 guidance for safe practice and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) in cares to keep residents and staff safe.

The report notes: "The management and oversight of the service was still not robust enough to identify areas of concern and put actions in place to continuously improve quality and safety.

"The last rating for this service was Inadequate - published May 1, 2020 - and there were multiple breaches of regulation. The provider produced an action plan in May 2020.

"At this inspection not enough improvement had been made and the provider was still in breach of regulations.

"If we do not propose to cancel the provider's registration, we will re-inspect within six months to check for significant improvements."

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