A previously failing nursing home has seen improvements since its last inspection, a health watchdog has found.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) upgraded the home this week after finding back in March this year vulnerable elderly people were not safe at Churchfields Nursing Home, in Churchfields, South Woodford.

The home is licensed to care for people over 65 with a range of conditions including dementia, eating disorders, learning disabilities among other illnesses.

It was labelled ‘inadequate’ and ordered to improve after the inspection revealed risk assessments were not properly carried out and staff were not adequately trained to protect residents.

Systems to manage medicines were also found to be inadequate and there were no records of required checks being carried out on four members of staff.

But in a fresh inspection report released this week, CQC upgraded the home from ‘inadequate’ to ‘requires improvement’.

While there were still gaps and inconsistencies in record keeping, staff knowledge and conduct had improved dramatically.

The latest CQC report states: “At this inspection, we found that some improvements had been made.

“Staff understood their responsibilities to protect the people in their care.

“They were knowledgeable about how to protect people from abuse and from other risks to their health and welfare.

“Medicines were managed and handled safely.

“Arrangements were in place to keep people safe in the event of an emergency.

“There were sufficient staff to meet people’s needs.

“Staff were attentive, respectful, patient and interacted well with people.

“People told us that they were happy and felt well cared for.”

There are currently 28 people living at the home.

Churchfields Nursing Home has been contacted for comment.