A BRADFORD care home has been put in special measures for not managing medicines safely and leaving those it looked after at risk of malnutrition and dehydration.

Woodleigh Rest Home, in Brewery Lane, Queensbury, was rated 'inadequate' following an inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) between June 14 and June 27 this year.

A report said: "The overall rating for this service is 'inadequate' and the service is therefore in 'special measures'.

"This means we will keep the service under review and, if we do not propose to cancel the provider's registration, we will re-inspect within six months to check for significant improvements."

Woodleigh had 23 people using the service at the start of the inspection with another joining before the last day – in total the care home is registered to accommodate for 33 individuals.

The care home was visited three times – on June 14, 16 and 27 – during the inspection period.

It was deemed to be unsafe, ineffective and not well led.

Inspectors found medicines were not managed safely which put people at risk of harm.

The report stated some people missed doses because the registered manager forgot to administer them and medicines that needed to be disposed of were not stored safely.

People were also at risk of malnutrition and dehydration due to a lack of monitoring of food and fluid intake.

The report stated “daily records were not robust” and the service “failed to monitor and respond to weight loss efficiently.”

This was despite some having been identified as being high risk in nutritional care plans and having lost significant amounts of weight.

One person lost 4.2kg in just short of a month and there was no mention of this in the individual’s care plan.

The registered manager – who is legally responsible for how the service is run and the quality and safety of the care provided - resigned during the inspection period.

The nominated individual – who supervises the management of the service on behalf of the provider – enlisted the support of a registered manager at the sister home but oversaw the leadership and management for the rest of the time.

The inspectors spoke to nine people who used the service and seven relatives, as well as looking around the building and observing people being supported in communal areas, including during mealtimes.

They also spoke with 10 staff members including the nominated individual, registered manager, deputy manager, senior care workers, care workers and cook.

The Telegraph & Argus was unable to make contact with the care home for comment.