A CARE home has been told to improve by a health watchdog.

Haydock Nursing and Residential Care Home, Blackburn, was given an overall rating as ‘requires improvement by Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspectors.

Inspectors said medicines were not managed safely within the service and the storage of topical creams and thickeners was not safe.

Watchdogs also found that personal and confidential records relating to people who used the service were not being stored safely or securely.

A CQC report added: "Staff members did not always receive appropriate support, training, supervision and appraisals to meet the needs of people who used the service."

The Pleckgate Road home was rated as 'requires improvement' for its safety, effectiveness, care and responsiveness and 'inadequate' for its leadership.

But inspectors also praised the home which provides accommodation for up to 50 people who need nursing and personal care.

They said people who used the service and their relatives told them staff were kind and caring, while inspectors observed interactions from staff that were caring.

A spokesman for the home said: "We have rectified any issues that were raised during the inspection and we continue to work closely with all governing bodies."