A COULSDON care home has said it is "disappointed" the care watchdog has not yet re-inspected it after publishing a damning report based on an unannounced inspection last July.
Ballater House says it is also concerned about a "lack of consistency" from the Care Quality Commission, which had visited the home in a scheduled inspection three months before and "found only one minor issue".
Inspectors who visited the 16-person home in Hollymeoak Road unannounced in July raised "major concerns about the way in which care was being provided and managed" in their report, published in mid-January.
Reports are usually published closer to the inspection date but can be delayed if the findings are disputed.
A Ballater House spokesman said this week: "This report refers to an inspection that took place in July 2013 following an unsubstantiated safeguarding allegation.
"We do not believe that the report reflected the care offered to the residents but took the feedback very seriously, even though the CQC had inspected the home only three months before and found only one minor issue.
"The lack of consistency in inspections is a worrying issue."
The spokesman for the Glen Care-owned home added an "independent expert consultant" had visited the home and found it to be a "safe and caring environment", compliant with CQC standards.
The home cares for and houses adults needing nursing or personal care or treatment for disease, disorder or injury.
The CQC inspectors who visited over three days in July said problems included poor care plans and residents' freedoms.
They added: "We also raised concerns with the provider because they did not have an effective system in place to protect people from the risk of unlawful or excessive control or restraint.
"We had concerns that people had been unlawfully deprived of their liberties and have asked the provider to seek urgent authority from the relevant statutory body."
Inspectors said people "spoke positively about living at Ballater House" but raised concerns about the "suitability of the premises". They also said written complaints from one resident had "not been acknowledged or investigated".
During a scheduled inspection in March, inspectors had come to an altogether different conclusion, saying care plans were "fit for purpose" and residents had said "they were encouraged to be independent".
A CQC spokesman said the home is due to have another unannounced inspection soon.
