A Wateringbury care home has been told to improve by a government health watchdog.

Inspectors from the Care Quality Commission made an unannounced visit to Pelican Court care home in June.

The home houses up to nine disabled adults with communication difficulties and is run by MCCH Society Ltd.

During the visit inspectors found the home breached four health regulations. These included a failure to provide enough activities and being unable to hand over up-to-date recruitment information.

Concerns were also raised about the safety of residents, with staff not always following people’s risk assessments. Inspectors found one resident listed as at risk of choking eating lunch alone.

There was also found not enough staff to meet people’s everyday needs, and a high level of agency staffing. Some staff had not been given up to date information about legislation dealing with mental health.

Staff members were seen administering medicine without seeking consent. The report says: “A member of staff approached a person who appeared to be asleep and placed a mask of a nebuliser over the person’s face without speaking to them.”

However, residents told inspectors they felt safe at the home, and the premises was kept well maintained. Staff had a good working relationship with residents, while report also praises staff’s prompt response to residents’ psychological, social, physical and emotional needs.

When the home was last inspected in July 2013, no concerns were raised.

Overall the Pelican Court was rated as inadequate for safety, and requiring improvement in effectiveness, care, responsiveness and leadership.

The management has submitted a report explaining what action will be taken.

Karen Reed, executive director of learning disabilities and autism at MCCH Society, said: “We have taken on board the comments and recommendations and have submitted an action plan with a factual accuracy report to the CQC.

We only use agency staff when we need to and in these circumstances, we always request the same people who have worked with us before, in order to maintain consistency for people we support.

The recruitment information, which we take very seriously and ensure it complies with regulations, was held at our head office so was not available for the inspector, which is being rectified.”