A CARE home where dementia patients are "at risk of harm" has been put in special measures by a healthcare watchdog.

Inspectors from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) said they visited Amelia House Care Home on Coningham Avenue in Rawcliffe after a resident at the site suffered serious injuries following an incident, which is now subject to a criminal investigation.

They said another resident had fallen three times in the past month at the home - once from their own wheelchair after staff failed to fasten them in.

The report said: "Inspectors had to intervene and prompt staff on duty to take action to keep people safe.

"Measures which were required to reduce the risk of harm to people were not in place.

"We observed a member of staff assisting a person to eat their lunch. The person was having a drink and the member of staff took this away from them and continued to assist the person to eat despite them making it clear they didn't want any more."

The CQC made six separate safeguarding referrals to City of York Council following the visit.

Inspectors also said the home received a low food hygiene score of two, but the manager told them work has now been carried out to meet the health and safety recommendations.

They added that staff recruitment was not robust and employees did not receive the support they required. But they were praised for being "kind and compassionate" towards residents.

A spokesman for the care home said a new, experienced manager has been appointed and the company has been recruiting extra staff.

He added: "We are sorry that Amelia House Care Home had fallen below the standards that we expect all of our homes to provide.

"We have been treating this as a priority and carrying out a comprehensive programme of improvements.

"However, alongside the deficiencies, which we have been working to rectify, the CQC inspectors recognised that care staff were compassionate and kind and tried their best to deliver a good standard of care."