A care home has been rated “inadequate” with concerns raised about safety and low levels of staff.

The Care Quality Commission found that Apthorp Care Centre, in Nurserymans Road, New Southgate, was failing to meet the required standards during an unannounced inspection in October.

The home looks after up to 108 elderly people, people with dementia and learning difficulties, with some funded by Barnet Council and some privately.

In a report, the CQC rated it as ‘inadequate’ in two categories, safety and effectiveness, and as ‘requires improvement’ in the remaining three – for being caring, responsive and well-led.

Concerns were raised with the CQC about low levels of staffing, with one bed bound person telling inspectors: “It’s too lonely. They don’t come in, I never see any carers here.”

Although most staff were up to date with mandatory training, 40 per cent of the staff had not completed dementia training.

The report notes the “high level of cleanliness” at the home, although it found staff were not appropriately supervised.

Night staff were also found to not understand whistle blowing, which meant some concerns may not have been reported.

People and relatives said that staff were caring, but inspectors observed some staff “display uncaring behaviours.”

Overall, the home was found to be unsafe because of staffing levels, and because medicines were not always managed properly.

Inspectors also found that staff were not appropriately supported, and did not understand their roles in caring for people who lacked mental capacity.

Sally Warren, the CQC's deputy chief inspector for adult social care, said: "People are entitled to services which provide safe, effective, compassionate and high quality care. "Whenever we find a service to be Inadequate, we will consider taking further action on behalf of the people who use the service."

Steve Flanagan, chief executive of The Fremantle Trust, said: “Prior to receiving the CQC inspection report we had already begun working on a development plan for this particular care home. This has been updated in light of the report including specific actions to address the issues raised by CQC.

“We have been liaising very closely with the London Borough of Barnet to ensure they are kept informed of our progress.”

A spokesman for Barnet Council said: “Since the CQC inspection last autumn, the council has been working closely with Fremantle Trust to put an action plan in place. The council and the CQC will continue to monitor the service being provided and will take any action necessary if it falls below the high quality of service we expect for our residents.”