The Care Quality Commission said Applegarth Nursing Home, in Newtown Road, had made insufficient improvements since its previous assessment and remained in breach of regulations covering safe care and treatment and good governance.
Its overall rating remains Requires Improvement, but its rating for safety remains Inadequate. The latest assessment was carried out between July 1 and 24 and published on August 25.
Inspectors found window restrictors did not meet Health and Safety Executive guidance, increasing the risk of people falling, while risks associated with balconies had not been appropriately assessed.
Records showed the last planned fire drill had taken place in May 2025 and staff said they had not carried out practical exercises using evacuation equipment.
The CQC shared its findings with Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service.
Following inspectors’ visits, the registered manager said appropriate window restrictors had been fitted and immediate steps were being taken to address the fire safety concerns.
The regulator also identified gaps in staff training, while care plans and risk assessments were not always accurate or up to date.
Medicines records were not always complete, including instances where it was unclear whether medication had been administered as prescribed.
However, inspectors found there were sufficient staff overall, infection prevention and control had improved and the home and its equipment were clean.
People also had access to healthcare professionals when required.
Feedback from residents and their relatives was mixed, with some raising concerns about the consistency of care.
Others were strongly positive. One relative told inspectors: “They are all very kind,” while another said: “I think her care is excellent.”
Inspectors themselves saw staff treating people in a caring and respectful way and taking time to engage with them warmly.
The home, which can provide nursing and personal care for up to 53 people, had 23 residents at the time of the assessment.
The CQC said this was the third consecutive assessment at which Applegarth had failed to achieve at least a Good rating for safety.
It was also the third successive assessment in which breaches relating to safe care and treatment and good governance had been identified. Inspectors said previous improvements had not been fully embedded or sustained.
The regulator said: “Since the safe key question has remained rated inadequate, the service has been placed into special measures.”
Special measures are intended to ensure services providing inadequate care make significant improvements within a set timeframe.
Applegarth is run by Applegarth Healthcare Limited.