A care home has been closed down after a Care Quality Commission inspection found multiple failings including inadequate care and leadership.

A report published by the CQC said an inspection of Kesson House care home in Council Avenue, Northfleet , on July 22, found residents' safety was at risk, coronavirus infection guidance had not been followed and one person had been assaulted.

Managers had since taken the decision to close the service - which had provided care to 27 people living with a range of complex health needs, including dementia, or aged over 65.

"People received inadequate care," stated a summary of the findings. "This had a major impact on their health, safety and well being. The provider did not have clear oversight of the service and their quality assurance process had not been robustly followed. Action taken to keep people safe had not been effective and people had suffered harm.

"We found significant shortfalls in people's care and support: these shortfalls had not been identified by the provider, their management team or staff.

The report went onto state the service was not "appropriately managed or led", and that residents - who were in the highest risk groups of dying from Covid-19 - were at risk of contracting the disease.

It added: "Safeguarding risks had not been identified and managed to keep people as safe as possible. One person had been assaulted. Staff had not informed the local safeguarding team of incidents so they could investigate and offer support."

Other failings included a lack of action when people had lost weight and failing to inform the CQC of serious injuries, while residents frequently had to wait for their care and support, causing distress, and some staff did not have basic skills, such as moving and handling or medicines training.

The report also identified poor management of medicines, adding: "Medicines had been out of stock, others had been not been given and one person had been given to much."

A statement from RCH Care Homes said: "Following the recent CQC inspection at Kesson House where areas for improvement were identified, RCH Care Homes had been working in partnership with our key stakeholders across Health and Social Care. Despite our absolute commitment, RCH Care Homes made the very difficult decision to close Kesson House Care Home.

"Covid-19 has significantly impacted the entire care sector and, unfortunately, Kesson House as a small service, has not escaped the effects of that. Reduced resident occupancy due to current and projected care market trends, along with increased costs, mean that Kesson House is not able to remain financially viable. This was not a decision that was made lightly, or without due consideration of our Duty of Care to our residents, and that Kesson House was their home.

"It is a regrettable decision RCH Care Homes made, however, we believe we made the right decision for those residents in our care, rather than potentially in the midst of a second Covid-19 wave in the upcoming winter months."

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