A mental health care home has been put into special measures after concerns were raised about the lack of staff training to meet patient’s needs.

In April inspectors from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) were called in to Tosh Lodge in Faversham Road in Kennington, after reports from a safeguarding authority that some residents weren’t happy.

They found the care home, which looks after five adults with mental health issues, was inadequate in four out of five categories and required improvement in a fifth category.

In particular, the inspectors found that while some patients had conditions such as epilepsy and diabetes, staff were not trained about how to spot if people were unwell.

The report states: “There was a risk that the appropriate action would not be taken and people would not be supported safely.”

There were also fears that despite one patient suffering bruising and swelling to their face, no incident report had been filed to check the person was safe and not at risk of suspected abuse.

The CQC report found that the care being provided was not effective, and said there were “shortfalls” in staff training to meet patient’s needs.

It stated: “Some staff had not completed mental health training, which was the main reason people lived at the service. People were at risk of receiving inappropriate or ineffective care because staff had not received training to support them in carrying out their roles.

“People living in the service had complex and specialist needs, about which staff had no previous knowledge or understanding.”

The report also found that patients faced “unnecessary restrictions” on their freedom of movement, while also having to check with “the boss” about whether they could do things such as watch the television late at night.

Overall, inspectors criticised the “restrictive culture” and added: “There had been a demonstrable lack of oversight by the provider, which had resulted in shortfalls in the quality and safety of the service going unchecked.”

Tosh Lodge's care registered care provider Fola Omotosho has been contacted for comment.