A HEREFORDSHIRE care home has been put into special measures after inspectors found a raft of issues with the service.

Field Farm House, in Hampton Bishop, was rated as 'inadequate', with five breaches of regulations found when Care Quality Commission inspectors visited, a newly released report has revealed.

The inspection found the service at the home was not safe or well led, and it was not always effective, caring or responsive.

Inspectors highlighted issues around staffing levels and said the home had failed to ensure people were treated with dignity and respect at all times.

"We saw one person walking around the communal lounge in soiled night wear," the report said.

"The inspection team had to request help from a member of staff to assist them. We saw another person left sitting in wet soiled clothing, whilst staff walked passed them, without offering assistance.

"When we asked a staff member to assist the person we were told "he's very difficult," and they continued to take them outside for a cigarette despite wearing wet clothing. Another person was walking around the home with their underwear over their trousers."

Concerns were also raised over the dispensing and storage of medication. Inspectors found safe medicine storage temperatures had been exceeded, and a urine sample container was discovered inside a medication fridge.

Poor communication, risk management, a lack of audits and ineffective incident monitoring were also criticised.

And infection control measures were found to be insufficient,with soiled items left in communal areas, and soiled underwear soaking in a container in the laundry.

More issues were found with the physical environment, with uneven garden paths and cluttered halls and bathrooms raised as potential hazards.

The report did, however, note that some care staff were observed supporting people with a kind and respectful manner, and it was clear some staff had developed good relationships with people.

But, inspectors said, staff shortages meant staff were task orientated and had little time to spend talking to people.

The CQC imposed a condition on the provider's registration to restrict admissions to the home following the inspection.

A spokesperson for the home said they were working with the council to make the suggested changes and improvements to ensure compliance.

“We have recruited more staff, but staffing in the care industry as a whole has been an ongoing issue for a long time,” she said.

"We have had family meetings, and they have been very positive," she said.

"All of our residents have stayed with us, and we have a dedicated staff team who are committed to providing good care for our ladies and gentlemen."