Managers of a failing care home rated inadequate in all areas have apologised to residents.

Bradbury Grange in Canterbury Road, Whitstable, was inspected by the health watchdog in September and handed the inadequate rating in every area assessed.

The home, run by Methodist Homes (MHA), provides accommodation and personal care for up to 50 elderly people.

In its report, the Care Quality Commission said the quality of food on offer was largely criticised by people and relatives.

During the inspection, one person sent out for food because their lunch had been “inedible”.

The report added: “Some areas of the home remained unhygienic including toilets, commodes and toilet seat risers.

"Some areas of the home remained unhygienic including toilets, commodes and toilet seat risers" - CQC report

“Toilet brushes were heavily soiled in some instances, but had not been included on cleaning schedules to ensure they were kept clean.

“There was no record or schedule of when people’s bed linen was changed and some people remarked that they felt changes were infrequent.

“People’s living conditions were not consistently hygienic.”

Bradbury Grange was previously inspected in March.

In the five categories assessed then, the home was found to require improvement in three but that it was inadequate and good in the others.

But it has now been rated inadequate in every category – and placed into special measures – after the latest inspection in September.

MHA spokesman Theresa Knight said: “We have apologised to our residents, relatives and our staff and volunteers.

“All we can say is that while the management action plan from the previous inspection was fully implemented, and improvements were made, we did not make sure these were sustained.

“As a result, the home has not met the standards which MHA and the CQC, had expected.

“As soon as we had verbal feedback from the inspectors we took action before we even received a draft copy of the report.

“Since then, we have seconded a very experienced senior home manager and replaced the service manager to enhance the leadership and action the corrective measures needed to raise the standard of care back to MHA’s expectations.

“The robust action plan has been agreed with the CQC and they have been regularly updated on our responses and actions taken to date.

“The aim is to have the action plan fully implemented by the end of December.

“Residents, relatives and staff have been assured that we will continue to monitor Bradbury Grange very closely to make sure that the improvements made are maintained.”