STAFFING levels at a York care home have been sharply criticised by a watchdog following its latest inspection.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) says Moorlands home at Strensall - part of Mimosa Health Care Group, which went into administration in March - did not have enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff on duty to meet people's needs.

It said it had previously identified concerns over staffing levels at Moorlands and the home's provider had sent it an action plan confirming that staffing numbers had been reviewed and increased.

But when inspectors visited on June 10, all the members of staff they spoke to had raised concerns about current staffing levels, particularly at weekends, and said this needed to be addressed.

Relatives had also expressed concerns and one resident who had been asked about bathing said they had a bath once a week but claimed staff sometimes said they were too busy, 'so can we leave it (my bath) till next week.'

One relative had said: "The biggest problem now is staffing. There should be four but at times as little as two staff. Quite often it is myself and another relative who are covering the lounge (observing people). This is of great concern."

The report stressed that residents, relatives and visiting professionals had praised the staff who were working at the home, making comments such as:"Staff are fabulous, wonderful to my relative and wonderfully supportive of me."

But the report also criticised the system for assessing and monitoring the quality of service received by residents and said residents' personal records, including medical records, were not always accurate and fit for purpose

A spokesperson for administrators BDO, who are continuing to trade the home through licensed care home operators while a purchaser is sought for it, said they were aware of, and were taking immediate action to resolve, the issues raised by the CQC’s most recent report, most specifically in relation to staffing levels.

"Since the latest inspection took place, we have already recruited two new nurses, are in the process of interviewing for a number of additional carers and a new home manager has just taken up their post this week," said the spokesperson.

"We have also taken on a new chef in the catering department who will be working to improve the range and quality of meals provided to residents.”