A CARE home in Burnley is failing to meet essential standards, according to an independent regulator.

Victoria Residential Home, in Thursby Road, was not reaching seven out of 16 safety requirements, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) said.

Inspectors visiting on March 14 found it was 'unhygienic and unclean' and there were not enough staff on duty.

They demanded that 'significant further improvements' were made.

The privately owned home, based in a converted hospital, is registered to care for 23 older people and 18 older people with dementia at a price of around £410 per week.

But the CQC said that residents at the home were not always getting safe and appropriate care that met their needs, because care was not always planned properly, and some risks were not identified.

It said people were not always provided with help on time to eat their meals and that management of medication was poor.

It also found that 'general repairs and maintenance of the premises were not undertaken in a way in which people's dignity and safety was maintained'.

And inspectors concluded that people were not provided with suitable equipment to meet their needs, which meant staff had to use inappropriate methods to move one person - posing a serious risk to that person and staff.

They added: “There were less staff on duty, which had an impact on the amount of time staff could spend with people.

“The lack of a registered manager meant that staff lacked direction to provide safe and effective care.”

Sue McMillan, the CQC's regional director for the north west, said: “The care at Victoria Residential Care Home has fallen far short of the standards people have a right to expect.

“We need to ensure that people living at the home are not at any immediate risk of harm.

“It is clear standards require significant further improvement so we will continue to monitor this service very closely to ensure these improvements are made and sustained.”

Nobody from the home was available for comment.