A DARWEN care home has been warned about coronavirus practices after concerns were raised from photographs on social media.

Oldfield House Residential Care Home was visited by Care Quality Commission inspectors on December 20 last year, after fears were raised that 'alleged staff were not following social distancing guidelines and were not using personal protective equipment properly'.

The Hawkshaw Avenue home offers care and accommodation to older people and people with dementia for up to 18 people in single rooms.

In the report released on January 13 it said: "We say some images on a social media platform where staff were seen to be closer than recommended by government guidelines.

"Not all staff in the photographs were wearing face masks.

"We discussed this with the manager and sought assurances about the homes infection prevention and control practices.

"The manager explained some of the staff had removed their masks for the photograph and replaced them straight after.

"The manager accepted that staff had not followed safe social distancing guidelines and again said this had been for the purposes of the photograph.

"We observed during the inspection some staff did not have their masks on properly. We noted this was when they were walking down corridors and not when in close contact with people living in the home.

"We made a recommendation that the manager reinforces the provider's infection prevention and control policies and procedures with the staff to support them to understand and follow effective infection prevention and control practice which reflects current government guidance."

According to the CQC website, the home has changed it's profile after their inspection in 2018 when it was run by Mrs K Kumar and Dr G A Kumar.

At the time it was rated as good across all five areas of the inspection.

It now is run by registered manager Kassie Marie Holt.

The Lancashire Telegraph commented the care home and the manager said they did not want to comment.