A CQC inspection has found that people were “not safe” and at “risk of avoidable harm” at a South London care home.

Tower Bridge care home, which is operated by HC-One, was rated Inadequate following a CQC inspection in August.

The CQC found that people’s medicines were not always managed safely and there was a “significant shortfalls in service leadership”.

The regulator observed that “there were not enough staff to meet people’s needs” and “staff appeared to be tired and rushed and people appeared unkempt”.

A spokesperson for Tower Bridge said: “Our priority is to deliver high quality, kind care for each of our residents, and we take all feedback from the regulator extremely seriously. We acknowledge that in the past we have fallen short of the high standards our residents and their loved ones rightfully expect and deserve, and apologise for this.

“Since the CQC visited the home in August, we have been working exceptionally hard to overcome the shortcomings identified by their inspectors and to deliver the thorough action plan we have in place.

“The home is now being led by a new, experienced manager, and is under enhanced senior and clinical oversight, to monitor our progress in line with our action plan. With improved staffing levels and refresher training in key areas for colleagues, we have already seen significant improvements since the time of the CQC’s visit.

“We are working closely with the local authority and the CQC to embed positive changes at the home, and we will continue to monitor the quality of care using our own internal assessments. We know there is still work to do to put things right, but everyone is determined to make and maintain the improvements needed to ensure we deliver high-quality, kind care at the high standards to which we hold ourselves.”