A dementia care home has been criticised for putting people at “serious risk” after inspectors found vulnerable residents had been left lying in their beds for weeks on end.

Wellesley Road Care Home, run by Shaw Healthcare, was failed on all five key indicators assessed by watchdog the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in a report published today.

The privately-run home in Gospel Oak opened in June and replaced two council-operated care homes. CQC inspectors arrived unannounced the following month after receiving “concerning information” regarding the home.

While observing “kind and positive” interactions between staff and residents, the facility was found to be understaffed, poorly run and suffering mix-ups with prescribed medicines.

In one shocking find, inspectors discovered three residents had been left lying in their beds for two whole weeks, putting them at risk of atrophy and bed ulcers.

Relatives were found to be so worried about the lack of staff they regularly visited the home to ensure their loved ones had enough exercise as well as enough to eat and drink.

The CQC report concluded: “Staff had little time to meet the more holistic needs of people at the home.”

Inspectors were also unhappy with the culture at the care home, saying: “There was a lack of trust between staff and management.

“Staff understood the principles of how to ‘whistle-blow’, but said they did not feel confident in raising their concerns with management.”

However, some residents at the home did praise the staff, saying they were “kind” and that they provided treatment with “warmth”.

A spokesman for Shaw Healthcare said: “The unusually early CQC inspection took place just five weeks after the opening of the service in what can sometimes prove to be an unsettling period for residents transferring into a new home and when there can be some initial teething problems in getting the new service up and running.

“We always encourage individuals to raise any concerns with us first so we can address any issues directly and give peace-of-mind, but, regrettably, we were not given the opportunity in this instance.

“The two items that were flagged as regulatory areas of improvement have since been addressed and the service is significantly improved. Other areas identified in the inspection report in relation to staffing conflict with evidence which we have provided to the CQC and we are disappointed that this data has not been considered in the final report.

“However, given the early inspection for such a new service, it was pleasing to read the volume of positive feedback from residents, relatives and health professionals cited in the report. As the service further beds in, we are confident that these examples of good care will continue and the improvements made to the service since the early inspection will be reflected in any follow-up report.”