A CARE home in Padgate has been taken out of special measures, but further improvements have been ordered following an inspection.

Heath Lodge Care Home, on Green Lane, was placed into special measure after it was rated as inadequate by the Care Quality Commission in January.

During the inspection early this year, the CQC found that staff had been accused of using 'aggressive and threatening behaviour' towards residents while parts of the care home were described as 'malodorous', stained and mouldy.

But Heath Lodge has now been taken out of special measures after an unannounced re-inspection in September, although the service has been told to make further improvements.

The CQC found that a resident who required supervision had recently been able to leave the home independently on two occasions, while there had been delays in addressing the requirements of an audit carried out by Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Heath Lodge, which housed seven adults with learning disabilities at the time of the inspection, had no registered manager and action to address accidents and incident had 'not always been taken in a timely manner'.

Two breaches of health and social care regulations were found in all, with the reviewing of care plans also 'not sufficiently robust'.

But inspectors noted that care was 'underpinned by values including choices, the promotion of independence and inclusion'.

A CQC report said: "During this inspection, the service demonstrated to us that improvements have been made.

"Therefore, this service is now out of special measures."

However, further improvements were ordered as the service was 'not consistently safe, effective, responsive and well-led'.

The previous inspection in January had identified 'significant breaches' of health and social care regulations, with the care home's operator Potens fined £1,250 for failing to notify the CQC of safeguarding incident.

Heath Lodge's then manager also had their registration cancelled by the CQC.

'Serious concerns' were raised over the management of service users' finances, with Potens currently in the process of agree reimbursements where purchases for residents were made 'inappropriately' or where there was a discrepancy in figures.

Potens has not responded to a request for comment from the Warrington Guardian.