A care home has been put into special measures after an unannounced inspection revealed residents had been left with "long and dirty" fingernails.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) was sent in July to assess Barnes Lodge in Tonbridge, after concerns were raised relating to the safeguarding of vulnerable adults and staffing.

At the time of the inspection there were 68 people being cared for at the three-storey nursing home in Tudeley Lane, which offers personal care for people who have complex health needs, including kidney failure, Type 1 diabetes and Parkinson's disease.

Inspectors identified a multitude of problems at the facility, which is run by Rapport Housing and Care, and their report branded it 'inadequate' across five areas – is the service safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led?

Some living at Barnes Lodge were left with "long and dirty" fingernails and clothes, as well as unexplained bruises that were not being investigated.

There were too few staff and many that were on shift at the time were from an agency.

As a result of the inspection the overall rating for the service has fallen from 'good' to 'inadequate' and the home has been placed in special measures.

It will be kept under review by the CQC and re-inspected within the next six months to check if sufficient improvements have been made.

During the visit, inspectors found people with bruises that had not been reported or recorded, including a resident that had one on their face.

"This was reported by a family member while visiting but had gone unnoticed and unreported by staff," according to the CQC.

The report goes on to say that there were "insufficient numbers of staff to meet people's needs and keep them safe."

It said: "Some staff told us they had observed poor practice by other staff when they were supporting people to move.

'Since the inspection we have taken further enforcement action, but the provider has the right to challenge this...'

"They knew the incidents they had witnessed were unsafe and did not promote people's dignity, or respect."

The inspectors also highlighted how one resident had a risk of malnutrition, after losing 3.2kgs of weight within 16 days.

A spokesman from the CQC said: “CQC found that the standard of care had dropped significantly at our last inspection of Barnes Lodge in July.

"At the time of the inspection CQC also imposed urgent conditions upon the service to ensure that any risks to people living there are managed effectively and appropriately.

“Since the inspection we have taken further enforcement action, but the provider has the right to challenge this and so we are unable to discuss further.”

'We are amidst the greatest workforce crisis in history and staff shortages are cited as a key problem in 75% of CQC reports of care homes which have received a lower rating...'

Leon Steer, chief executive of Rapport Housing and Care, said: "We have taken immediate action on the CQC’s findings and are working closely with them on the improvements we need to make.

"We want to reassure our residents and their relatives that the safety and wellbeing of our residents remains our top priority.

"Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent staffing crisis within the care sector, Barnes Lodge held a ‘good’ rating from the CQC, and we are working hard to restore this rating.

"The social care sector is currently under extreme pressure and is in urgent need of reform.

"We are amidst the greatest workforce crisis in history and staff shortages are cited as a key problem in 75% of CQC reports of care homes which have received a lower rating.

"In addition to that, a poll by the South East Social Care Alliance found that almost half (45%) of care providers in the region are thinking of exiting the sector because of underfunding for local authority/ NHS funded residents.

"Health care leaders have previously warned that the sector is facing a ‘ticking time bomb’ and action is needed immediately if it is to remain sustainable."