An Ipswich care home has been placed in special measures after a damning report by the health watchdog.

Beechlawn Residential Home, in Elton Park Hadleigh Road, was rated inadequate in all five key categories by the Care Quality Commission after an unannounced inspection in December.

The care home, which provides care for up to 36 older people, was given an overall rating of inadequate.

The CQC said staff had not received training in safeguarding adults, risks to people were not managed appropriately and caring relationships had not been developed.

The inspection report said: “Due to the low staffing numbers staff did not have time to give people the care and support they required in a caring and compassionate way.”

The health watchdog said the “new” manager of the care home, who declined to speak to the Star, had not registered with the CQC to manage the service.

A spokesman Leafoak Limited, which runs the care home, said: “A new manager was appointed and she could not produce all the documents the inspector wanted. Unfortunately, two of the five carers were also new and could not answer the inspector’s questions. So the inspection was untimely, but we do not object to the rating. We are now working with everyone to make improvements.”

The report also revealed allegations of abuse had been reported to Suffolk County Council (SCC).

A SCC spokesman said: “We have carried out a thorough investigation into allegations made about the home and found that there is no further action to be taken as none of the allegations were substantiated.

“We are now working closely with the manager and her team to help them drive improvement in their service.”