THE former manager of a Pendle nursing home, whose actions contributed to two below-par watchdog inspections, has been allowed to remain in the nursing profession.

Bosses at Belgarth Nursing Home in Barrowford dismissed Lynne Frankland after two questionable reviews by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), which highlighted failings in care plans, staff supervision and the administration of medication.

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But a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) misconduct panel has ruled she is safe to be allowed to remain as a nurse, under strict working conditions, after hearing how she had a long and unblemished work record previously.

Phillip Law, for the NMC, told a London hearing that the CQC first raised concerns regarding Belgarth in 2014 and an inspection was conducted at the Wheatley Lane Road home in August.

Mrs Frankland was the home’s acting manager at the time, having worked there previously as a state enrolled nurse from 1994 to 2000 and as a deputy manager from 2002 to 2012.

An inspection team noted there were a number of deficiencies with care plans, including notes not being up-to-date for a patient whose mobility had deteriorated. Proper dietary records for the residents were also lacking.

The CQC found the home was non-compliant against standards such as residents’ care and welfare, co-operating with other providers and record-keeping, the hearing was told.

Mr Law said that as a result admissions to the home were suspended and a further inspection took place in February 2015.

This visit raised the alarm over poor record-keeping for medication and ultimately how unused tablets were disposed of.

The hearing was told that the management of the home, Sage Healthcare, dismissed her without notice, as she had been in post for less than two years, and referred her conduct to the NMC.

Mrs Frankland told the hearing that she accepted the misconduct charges levelled against her but considered that with support she could learned from her previous mistakes.

The panel heard that she was currently employed as a bank nurse by an agency and wished to carry on working in that capacity.

Announcing their findings, panel chairman Sheila Hewitt said: “There is no evidence of deep-seated attitudinal or personality problems contributing to her failings.”

Mrs Frankland will have conditions placed on her nursing registration for 12 months, the panel ruled, preventing her from taking on any managerial roles and must complete courses on record-keeping and medicine management.

The home was rated good in all aspects, except service effectiveness, when it was inspected again in September 2015.