Housing charity Abbeyfield has acknowledged issues due to staff shortages at a care home rated Inadequate by the CQC.

Abbeyfield Loughborough in Leicestershire was rated Inadequate following an inspection by the CQC in September.

Inspectors noted: “Staffing levels were not sufficient to meet people’s individual needs and keep them safe from harm.”

In one incident, the CQC said the provider “had failed to ensure timely action had been taken to safeguard people in response to a sexual incident between two people”.

In another incident, the CQC said the service had not informed a relative that a person had sustained a head injury due to staff poor practice during assisted moving.

Abbeyfield announced a consultation on the closure of 43 services in June following a national review of its services. The housing charity confirmed the closure of 29 services this month.

A spokesperson for the Abbeyfield Loughborough Society said: “Abbeyfield Loughborough prides itself on the care and support we provide to our residents and, as such, this Care Quality Commission (CQC) result is extremely disappointing. Although we are challenging some of the evidence provided, we acknowledge the broad findings of the report and accept there are several areas that require improvement.

“Some of the issues reported are due to staff shortages and the resulting pressure that puts on existing staff, a crisis currently being experienced by the entire sector on a national level.

“Since the inspection, a new registered manager has been appointed who, supported by Leicestershire County Council, has put measures in place to address a number of the concerns raised in the report, and the CQC has been informed of the work being done. We are working very hard to deliver the high standard of service our residents and their families expect.”