DEVON County Council has been told to make improvements after a flagship care home in Newton Abbot was branded 'inadequate' by inspectors.

Mapleton is one of two authority homes that specialises in care for people with dementia and last year was the subject of a £1.5 million investment to create 'a centre of excellence'.

But officers with the Care Quality Commission visited in February and found that although staff were caring, not all of them understood residents' needs.

There were also concerns about people getting the right nutrition and enough to drink, the administration of medications, the recording of risks and a lack of carers seeking help from colleagues.   ?

The county's health supremo, Cllr Stuart Barker, said he was 'surprised and dismayed' at the findings.

'It was not good enough,' he said.  'We have a changed management team with experience of dementia care overseeing the urgent improvements.

'An action plan, that CQC is happy with, has been in place since their visit to address the concerns, and we are providing refresher training for all the home's staff.

?'The quality of the service now has much improved since the inspection in February, and DCC will not allow it to fall short again of providing the standard of care that residents need.'