A care home that looks after people with epilepsy has been rated as ‘requires improvement’ after inspectors found improvements were needed to ensure “safe, effective and well-led care” was maintained.

The Epilepsy Society, in Milton House, Chalfont St Peter, was found to be in breach of three regulations and not meeting the requirements of the law by Care Quality Commission inspectors, who made an unannounced visit to the care home at the beginning of the year.

Areas of concern were highlighted as low staffing levels between 7am and 10am, a failure to inform the CQC of a statutory notification, a recent medication error and slow response over a safety issue.

Inspectors wrote: “The service was not always safe. People were not provided with sufficient staff in the morning to promote their safety.

“People were protected from potential abuse and the risk of infection. However people's individual risks were not always identified and risks were not managed.”

They also noted that the outcome of health appointments and follow-up appointments were not “routinely” recorded and in some occasions, follow up appointments were cancelled without explanation.

But they also praised staff, saying they were “kind, caring, helpful and inclusive”, and noted that people’s privacy, dignity, independence and respect was promoted.

Residents were also supported to pursue their interests and activities were provided, and were given information on how to raise a concern or complaint, inspectors added.

The charity’s director of care services, Adam Went, said: “The well-being and safety of residents in all our care homes and services is of paramount importance to us.

“Managers and staff work hard to ensure that individual needs are met within a caring and supportive environment.

“We are very disappointed to have received a ‘requires improvement’ rating from the CQC for Milton House and have taken immediate action to meet the concerns identified by the commission.

“We have addressed the staffing levels with immediate effect and an experienced service manager at Epilepsy Society is leading a robust plan to meet all required areas of improvement in Milton House.

“We are very disappointed with the outcome of the report but would like to commend our staff who are dedicated to providing excellent care for our residents.

“It is our expectation at Epilepsy Society that all our services receive a rating of ‘good’ as an absolute minimum.”