A DUDLEY care home has been put into special measures, after being inspected only week after a new manager was put in place.

Himley Manor Care Home on Himley Road in Dudley was rated as ‘inadequate’ by the Care Quality Commission this month after an inspection in January.

The home was previously rated as 'requires improvement' in an inspection in April 2018.

The former registered manager was dismissed in December 2018, and at the time of January's inspection an interim manager had been in the post for just over a week.

The report of the inspection, published on March 2, marks the home's safety and leadership as inadequate and found that its effectiveness, care and responsiveness require improvement.

The safety of the home was rated as inadequate, a step down from its 'requires improvement' rating in April 2018.

Concerns were raised about the safety of a hoist and that the home was not consistently recognising and reporting safeguarding incidents.

However, staff were praised for respecting residents’ privacy and the report also acknowledged that there were signs the home was starting to improve after the arrival of the interim manager.

The report stated: “We saw in the few days that they had been working there they had already identified and taken action on incidents and shared information with the local authority about these.”

The interim manager, Val Bunn, said changes have been put in place to improve the home since her appointment and she said she has a ‘good, open and honest’ working relationship with the Care Quality Commission.

Detailing the improvements made during her first two months in the post, she said: “Staff levels have been increased, training has all been updated, care delivery is more person centred focused and includes the introduction of an activity co-ordinator.

“The home has received some positive feedback from relatives and professionals in a short period of time.”

She continued: “Newer staff have also been employed which has enabled the manager to restructure the day to day running of the home, meeting the needs of the individuals in a safe environment.

“A new team of seniors have been introduced to ensure the home is well led.

“We anticipate the next inspection to be late spring early summer where we are hopeful of an improved report and taken out of special measures.”

She added: “Our aim is to continue to work with CQC and ensure that Himley Manor and the residents are safe and the service delivery is what they expect.”