Government inspectors are "finalising what further action" to take after a care home failed three inspections last year and is still not providing "good quality, ongoing compassionate".

In a report published at the end of last month, Firtree House Nursing Home, in Firtree Road, Banstead, was rated Inadequate overall by the health and social care watchdog the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The announcement comes just weeks after the CQC took decisive action to close two failing care homes, one in Banstead, the other in Sutton.

LAST MONTH: Care Quality Commission boss on watchdog's past failings and more "robust" approach to tackle danger care homes

Firtree House failed all the key standards assessed last February and at an unannounced inspection over two days in July, the CQC found that its owner, Salim Jiwa, was failing to provide care which was safe, effective, caring, responsive or well-led at the home.

It was deemed "inadequate" in terms of safety and how well-led it is, and "requires improvement" in the areas of effectiveness, and how caring and responsive it is.

In October, the Epsom Guardian reported that the home was being investigated by Surrey Police after the death of one of its residents, Frank West, 86.

Mr West’s daughter, Trudy Hampton, said the investigation has now been completed and she is expecting its findings this week.

Following the July inspection, two formal warnings requiring urgent improvement were issued to Firtree House.

But the CQC has since returned to the home and is still "not satisfied" with the progress being made.

It is now considering taking further action against Mr Jiwa.

A CQC spokesman said the findings of the most recent inspection and details of any further action taken will be "published in due course".

Adrian Hughes, deputy chief inspector of adult social care in the south, said: "We found that the care provided at Firtree House Nursing Home fell a long way short of what we expect services to provide.

"We have told the provider they must take immediate action to resolve the issues we identified.

"While we did some see caring interactions between staff and people living in the home, we found that in other ways people were not well supported.

"Some of the issues we found needed urgent attention, and when we returned to the home more recently we were not satisfied with the progress that was being made.

"People who use services have the right to be treated with dignity and respect at all times and cared for in a consistent and reliable way.

"From our inspections, Mr Jiwa has been unable to assure us that good quality, ongoing compassionate care can be delivered.

"We are therefore finalising what further action we will be taking to ensure that people receive care which is safe, effective, caring and responsive to their needs."

Mr Jiwa said the nursing home has been "working tirelessly" to ensure it meets the required standards.

He said: "As this report reflects an inspection in July 2014, Firtree has since done a lot to put the requirements in place.

"This is evident from the comments we get from the residents and the families who speak highly of the care given at Firtree.

"I would like to emphasise the report highlights over and over again the care received at Firtree is good.

"To further improve, we have appointed a consultancy who are working hands-on to enable us to put all of the systems in place so all standards are met adequately.

"I have run Firtree house nursing home for the last 24 years and am passionate about the care we give. I am doing whatever it takes to achieve an excellent standard."

At the time of the July inspection, 22 people were living at the home, some of them dementia-sufferers.

The CQC found medicines were not being managed safely at the home, with staff members leaving them unattended and or not disposing of them in a safe way.

Inspectors found that blanket decisions were being made on an individual’s capacity to make decisions for themselves rather than staff working with people on an individual case-by-case basis ensuring the decisions were in the person’s best interest.

There were a number of safety and maintenance issues in the home which presented a risk to people living there, and Mr Jiwa had failed to make sufficient improvements following a previous inspection last February.

In its report, the CQC said there was no registered manager in position as they had left a week before the visit, but that the newly-appointed matron told inspectors the home was in the process of sending in their application to the CQC to be appointed to this role.

To view the full report of the July inspection click here.