A social care service for people with learning disabilities and mental health needs has been rated as inadequate.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) told Barnet Supported Living Services that it must make improvements or face further enforcement action.

Run by Your Choice Barnet, the service has three sets of self-contained flats and two shared houses in Barnet, all staffed 24 hours a day and overseen by a registered manager.

During an inspection last August, inspectors found that it was failing to provide care which was safe, effective, responsive or well-led.

A report states that people’s safety was being compromised, with deficiencies in infection control and the way medicines were stored, and staff had not received training to support people who lacked the mental capacity to make decisions.

Low staff numbers were also cited as a concern by people who used the service and their relatives, and inspectors noted that people were at risk of food poisoning.

Although the provider ensured people had access to their GP and other health services, inspectors found records were not kept up to date and most people did not have health passports.

Sally Warren, deputy chief inspector of adult social care for the CQC, said: “People told us that most staff were kind and caring however others were not and staff did not have the skills or understanding to care for people who had different needs effectively.

"It is unacceptable that people being cared for by Barnet Supported Living were not receiving care which was safe, effective, responsive to their needs or well led, although we noted that some 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.”

Director of care and support at Your Choice Barnet, Julie Riley, said the company was “disappointed” with the report, and said concerns had been addressed.

She added: “Since the inspection was carried out six months ago we have instigated a detailed action plan addressing the areas for improvement identified in the verbal debrief last August although a number of the areas in the written report weren't fed back at this time.

“I am pleased to confirm that the majority of actions identified at that time have already been put in place including improvements in management of medication management, service management and hygiene, in advance of our formal report of action to the CQC required by March 27 2015."

Your Choice Barnet has also invited the CQC back to re-inspect the service.