A care home that smelled of “stale urine” has been rapped by a healthcare watchdog for a second time.

Hot water in excess of 50 degrees Celsius was also coming from taps at Folkestone’s Grange Care Home, a facility for dementia patients.

And staffing levels were so low Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspectors heard call bells sounding “almost continuously” while two people called “help, help” from their bedrooms.

The damning report marks the second time in six months the home has been rated ‘inadequate’ and placed in ‘Special Measures’.

When CQC inspectors visited The Grange in October they unearthed a number of “breaches of regulations”.

The report said medicines were not being managed or stored safely and flagged staff shortages as a major issue.

Fire drills had also not been performed, according to the report.

At the time the home said it was challenging the CQC over "factual inaccuracies."

Inspectors carried out the latest unannounced probe in March when they unearthed a string of failings and continued breaches of the Health and Social Care Act.

In summary inspectors wrote: “Risks including those associated with medicines, the environment, hot water temperatures, the spread of infection and fire drills had not been properly assessed or minimised in order to keep people safe.”

The report adds: “The risk from the spread of infection had not been safely managed. There was an unpleasant odour

resembling stale urine in the main lounge, some corridors and several bedrooms. In one bedroom the smell was exceptionally bad.

“Inspectors discovered an armchair cushion in the room was drenched with urine on its underside.

A towel sticking out of a drawer was stained with faeces. The person using this room lived with dementia.”

Grange Care Home is again challenging the CQC's findings, according to a statement issued by trainee solicitor Pauline Belloni, from Bournemouth based law firm Lester Aldridge.

The home is also working with the CQC to ensure it "continues to meet its obligations," she said

Here statement says: “The safety and care of our residents at The Grange Care Home has always been, and continues to be, of the utmost importance to us.

"We pride ourselves in providing a comfortable, friendly and caring environment which our residents love. The CQC report found that relatives gave mainly positive feedback about our service and that improvements had been made.

"We were therefore disappointed with the ratings in CQC’s report, which do not accurately reflect our service. "

She added the home is doing its "utmost to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our residents and have taken immediate action where needed."

The statement goes on to say action has been taken to prevent water from being too hot at outlets.

"Whilst we continue to challenge CQC’s findings, we are working with CQC to ensure the home continues to meet its obligations under the regulations and we continue to ensure the ongoing safety and wellbeing of our residents,” she continued.

The home is ran by private company Ashwood Park Healthcare, it also operates Cumbria House care home in Shorncliffe Road, Folkestone.

The CQC rated it 'Requires Improvement' last September.

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