A failing Kesgrave care home has been criticised by the health watchdog after concerns were raised over how residents receive medicine.

Alice Grange Care Home, which is not meeting four out of five key targets set by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), did not protect people against the “risks associated with the unsafe use and management of medication” because there were not “appropriate arrangements” for the recording, handling, using and safe administration of medicines.

The CQC ruling was made after an unannounced inspection to the care home in Ropes Drive.

The pharmacist inspector could not be assured that medicines for residents were always being administered as intended by their prescribers because all medicines could not be accounted for numerically by records, according to the CQC report.

Medicine was given in error on the day of the inspection, on August 5, and inadequacies were noted in supporting information and records, which could have led to residents not receiving their medicines appropriately and as intended by prescribers.

The care home provides nursing care for up to 85 young adults and older people. They require support for a range of needs such as dementia and physical disabilities.

Currently, the care home is meeting only one of the five key CQC targets – treating people with respect and involving them in their care.

But areas including providing care that meet people’s needs, protecting people from harm, and staffing are not being met.

An Alice Grange Care Home statement said: “Since the inspection of Alice Grange we have made numerous improvements which have been monitored by the management support team.

“We took immediate action and compiled an action plan clearly outlining the steps being taken to ensure improvements in our services continue to be achieved and more importantly sustained and embedded into the culture of the home.

“Part of our improvement process includes recruitment of staff to enhance the delivery of service, training for all existing staff and appointment of a new general manager.

“We have also had an audit of all medicines carried out by the CQC and are awaiting the resulting report.

“We would like to reassure everyone of our commitment to provide the highest quality of care to those residing at Alice Grange and to emphasise that their health and wellbeing is at the forefront of everything we do and are doing.”