A care home where patients lost weight because they were not being looked after properly and staff were “run ragged” has been placed into special measures.

The services provided at Hevercourt, in Goodwood Crescent, Gravesend, are “inadequate”, says a health watchdog’s report.

The home is family-owned and has been open for more than 30 years.

It cares for up to 47 elderly patients, most of whom have dementia.

An inspection was carried out by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) from June 4 to June 12.

In its report, published on September 16, assessors say residents’ conditions were deteriorating due to a lack of support.

Patients had lost weight as food and fluid intake was not “robustly recorded” and those deemed vulnerable were at high risk of serious harm to their health.

The report stated: “People experienced increased incidents of falling in recent months and the service had not taken action to minimise this risk or analyse the cause for the increase.

“Other people at risk of harm from sexualised behaviour from other people were not protected: there were no risk assessments or guidance in place to ensure people’s safety.”

Inspectors found those at risk of choking on their food were left unsupervised at meal times, and patients needing help to move about were left in their bedrooms without the ability to call for aid.

One staff member had said they had never seen a risk assessment.

Others had said the provider had reduced staff levels in the afternoon and felt there were not enough carers.

They said: “Sometimes people who need two staff are making do with one.”

Another added: “Mistakes are made as there is so much to do, our dependencies are so high, palliative care, so much dementia, the pressure is immense.

“Staff are shattered and it's non-stop, they are run ragged.”

Inspectors found they “did not have sufficient knowledge or skills needed to keep people safe".

Up-to-date training relating to patient's specific needs was lacking in some cases and there was no plan to address this.

The registered manager had received no managerial training.

Assessors were also told beds were not empty for long before new referrals were accepted and shortly before the inspection, four people were admitted in quick succession.

The registered manager, Laura Marie Horne, recognised there was a need for improvement.

But inspectors said: “There was a lack of evidence of innovative action to drive improvements.

“However the provider was made aware that because of the assessment outcome, we would require an action plan for improvements of the concerns found.”

Hevercourt confirmed it had provided the CQC with an action plan but declined to comment pending an ongoing process.

The care home continues to operate as normal.