The Care Quality Commission (CQC) served the notice on Rayson Homes Ltd who run Anna S Proctor House Care Home in Shotley Bridge, Consett, in December.
The watchdog, which rated the home as “requires improvement” said the service, which supports adults with learning and physical disabilities, remains in breach of legal regulations after problems with medicines management identified at previous inspections were not resolved.
Inspectors said the failures meant “some aspects of the service were not always safe and there was limited assurance about safety. There was an increased risk that people could be harmed.”
The report said the provider “did not make sure that medicines and treatments were safe and met people’s needs, capacities and preferences.”
Inspectors also found records did not demonstrate medicines were being managed safely.
The report states: “Records did not always evidence that an effective system was in place to ensure medicines were safely managed and administered.”
During the inspection some prescribed medicines were “out of stock and could not be given”.
The CQC said stock discrepancies identified by staff had not been escalated and guidance for “when required” medicines was not always person-centred or was missing.
Inspectors said the home had already been found in breach of regulations at the previous two assessments but the issues remained unresolved.
The watchdog said: “At this latest assessment medicines management was still unsafe meaning lessons had not been learned, and good practice was not embedded.”
As a result, the service was found to be “in continued breach of legal regulation in relation to medicines management” and also in breach of governance regulations.
The CQC said leaders had not used available information to address the risks.
Despite the failings, inspectors said people living at the home and their relatives spoke positively about the care provided by staff.
One resident told inspectors: “It’s very good here”, a relative said: “I find it excellent. [Named person] is really happy there.”
The CQC said the provider submitted an action plan after the inspection outlining how the medicines issues would be addressed.
The Northern Echo contacted Rayson Homes for comment but the company did not reply in time for publication.