INSPECTORS have said a care home has not learnt its lessons after failing to make improvements.

The inspection concluded the services at Eight Ash Court Limited, in Halstead Road, Eight Ash Green, were inadequate.

Concerns were also raised about the residential care home, which is set across two bungalows and provides accommodation and personal care for up to 12 people with disabilities, having a “closed culture” in relation to reporting of safeguarding worries.

At the time of the inspection in July, there were 12 people living at the facility.

The damning report said people were at risk of infections due to lack of adherence to Covid guidance.

Assessing its care, the inspector wrote: “The service was not well-managed, and quality assurance, monitoring and oversight systems were either poor or not in place.

“It was not demonstrated people had consistently good outcomes, or they were always consulted and engaged with to ensure person-centred care.

“Other professionals reported concerns the management team did not respond adequately or in a timely way.”

It was also noted in the worrying report that residents weren’t supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives.

It added staff “did not support them” in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests.

The inspector continued: “There were not sufficient numbers of competent staff deployed at all times to ensure the service was safe, particularly at night.

“Lessons had not been learned following recommendations made at the last inspection, or from the input of other professionals.

“We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to communities that most people take for granted.

“Based on our review of safe and well-led, the service was not able to demonstrate how it was meeting the underpinning principles of right support, right care, right culture.”