A CARE home has been told to improve after staff were suspended following claims of abuse.

Ghyll Grove Care Home, Ghyllgrove, Basildon has been rated as requiring improvement by the Care Quality Commission.

Inspectors visited the home after an investigation was launched by Essex Police.

The report states: “This was a responsive inspection, prompted in part by notification of an incident following which a person using the service was placed at risk of harm and abuse.

“This incident is subject to a police investigation.”

The report suggests staff sometimes put themselves first.

It stated: “Staff did not always have the time to give people the care and support they needed.

“Staff regularly felt stretched, and the focus was on completing tasks rather than on providing person-centred care and support.

“Not all people were treated with dignity, kindness and respect.

“Staff routines and preferences took priority over consistent care and meeting people’s preferences and wishes.”

The health watchdog also noted that people’s end of life care needs are not clearly documented and questions were raised about the leadership at the home.

In February The Echo reported how nine workers were suspended after police were called into the care home following allegations of abuse.

The probe is ongoing at the home.

HC-One, the company who operates the home, took immediate action as soon as the allegations came to light.

The investigation came after a family member secretly filmed interactions between staff and a relative at the home.

The incident is alleged to have taken place in Kennett House.

A spokesman for the home said: “The health and wellbeing of our residents is always our number one priority, and we take all feedback from the Care Quality Commission seriously.

“As was well reported at the time, this inspection took place immediately following serious allegations coming to light. “These have been dealt with, but it did mean that when inspectors arrived the home was in a state of change. Their snapshot report should therefore be read in this context.

“We are an organisation that passionately believes in providing kind and compassionate care – anything less is unacceptable. Since January, a dedicated project team has been based at the home providing very targeted interventions to upskill colleagues, instil appropriate values, and improve facilities so everyone receives the very best care.

“This has been a very significant undertaking, with exceptional levels of resource and expertise committed to the home over the past four months from all levels of the organisation. We are confident the home today is in a very different and far more positive place than it was at the time of the CQC visit several months ago.

“We recognise there is still work to do in some areas, and we continue to work closely with the Care Quality Commission, the local authority, residents, their loved ones and colleagues to make sure we deliver the kindest care.”