A care home for the elderly and people with dementia has been told to make urgent improvements to its standards of care.

The Care Quality Commission issued three formal warnings to Embrace All Limited following an unnounced inspection of Sydmar Lodge, in Hale Lane, Edgware, in November.

Inspectors found the home was failing to provide safe and effective care, although it was rated as 'good' in the 'caring' category.

The report also identified a number of areas in which improvements were required, including people not being given their prescribed medication and people not being given the support they needed to eat or drink – leading to a risk of malnutrition and dehydration.

Sally Warren, CQC’s deputy chief inspector of adult social care in London, said: “It is unacceptable that people living at Sydmar Lodge were not receiving care which was safe, effective, responsive to their needs or well led, although we noted that staff were caring.

“We will return in due course to check whether the required improvements have been made – and will take further action if they have not.”

The care home was issued similar warnings after an unannounced inspection in January 2012.

A spokesman for the home said: “We take feedback from the CQC very seriously and are committed to working closely with them to address the points raised. 

“Whilst the report shows that the home provides a caring environment where staff are kind, patient and respectful to residents, we have put in place a detailed action plan to make improvements in the areas identified.

“Our new home manager is working closely with the staff team to implement the action plan and we look forward to welcoming the CQC back to the home soon to demonstrate the improvements made.”