INSPECTORS have produced a damning report on a Keighley nursing home which was forced to close suddenly.

The Keighley News revealed earlier this month that residents had been given just days to move out of Laurel Mount, amid concerns over safety of care.

Now the Care Quality Commission has reported that following three visits by its inspectors to the 34-bed home – in Woodville Road – last month, the facility was rated 'inadequate' overall and in four out of the five key areas. This means it is now in special measures.

The report says people were not safe and were at risk of avoidable harm.

In two separate incidents, staff were seen using unsafe moving and handling techniques, the environment was not always safe or well maintained, central heating wasn't working in some parts of the building and fire safety was "compromised".

Accident and incident recording was described as "poor".

The report said staff were not completing regular Covid-19 tests, personal protective equipment was not worn correctly and checks on vaccine status and lateral flow results of visiting professionals to the home were not carried out or recorded.

The last infection control audit was conducted in November, 2019.

Concerns about staffing levels were raised and recruitment processes were not "robust".

Inspectors added: "We reviewed recruitment files for five staff working in the home. There was no evidence of a disclosure and barring service check for three of the staff and no references for four of the staff."

The report said people in the home were not always treated with kindness and compassion.

Inspectors said they witnessed staff raise their voices and call to people across the lounge to ask if they wanted to go to the toilet.

The report said: "This was undignified for people and showed a lack of respect for their privacy. We saw staff using the same cloth to wipe different people's mouths and hands after a meal. Some people had no slippers or shoes on, just socks. Some people's hair looked unkempt.

"People were not being offered or receiving regular baths and showers."

The home had a "lack of effective management and leadership" and whilst there is a requirement to notify the commission about certain events and incidents, such notifications had not been submitted.

Dr Baby Cherian, care company director, said it was working with the commission and Bradford Council to rectify things and move forward.