A CARE home could be shut down or fined because it is repeatedly failing to meet basic standards of care.

Government regulator the Care Quality Commission has issued enforcement notices against Chaplin Lodge care home, in Nevendon Road, Wickford, because it has failed to improve standards.

Inspectors first raised concerns about the home after an unannounced inspection, but despite issuing improvement notices and making further visits, standards have not improved.

The latest report reveals concerns about the management of medicines, incomplete resident records and staff failing to respect residents’ privacy and dignity.

The report stated: “We have taken enforcement action against Chaplin Lodge to protect the health, safety and welfare of people using the service.”

An inspector wrote: “One person was observed at the time of our arrival in the dementia unit to be wearing a cardigan heavily stained down one side with food and drink patches left over from breakfast.

“One relative told us their family member was often found with an incontinence pad heavily soaked with urine.”

Later in the report, the inspector wrote: “On four separate occasions, one person was noted to be distressed and crying.

“On two occasions, care staff walked past and ignored them.”

Inspectors checked the care records for 15 of the 46 people living at the home andfounddiscrepancies in seven.

They also found discrepancies between medicines in stock and those in the home’s records.

The commission is revisiting the home and will be publishing a further report.

A spokesman said: “When a warning notice is issued, in each case a deadline is given for improvement.

“If this deadline is not met and the required improvements are not made, the commission has a range of enforcement powers which include restricting the services a provider can offer or, in the most serious cases, suspending or cancelling a service.

“The commission can also issue financial penalty notices and cautions or prosecute the provider for failing to meet essential standards.”

An Essex County Council spokesperson said: “We have been working with the manager and owners of the home to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of service users.

“During this period the council has put a suspension on new placements and this will be reviewed once we are assured the issues, particularly those highlighted by the commission, have been addressed.”

A spokesperson for Adiemus Care said: “A host of improvements have recently taken place to both procedures and the physical environment at Chaplin Lodge.

“We are confident the issues identified previously have now been resolved.”