ELDERLY and vulnerable people in Portland's only care home were receiving a poor standard of care, according to a report.

But the manager at Portland Residential Home in Wakeham has hit back by saying their service has improved since the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) earlier this year.

Jennifer Gillespie said two of the staff had left and the remaining care workers were trying to get the service back on track.

Mrs Gillespie said they had been expecting the poor review but that inspectors had returned in the past few weeks and noted the home's improvement.

She said: "We've made a lot of changes. Both county council and CSCI inspectors had been back and they're quite pleased with what's going on.

"When I came here the home had been left to run itself basically. The care work is now excellent.

"Inspectors said our rating should go up by at least one notch at the next inspection - hopefully in August."

She added: "We're not totally shipshape yet but we're getting there."

The report followed an unannounced inspection last December and two arranged visits in January.

The inspection team toured the premises, spoke to the home's 10 elderly residents, staff and manager and observed staff interaction with the residents and the carrying out of routine tasks.

Portland Residential Home is one of just six care homes in the county to receive the no star' rating out of 179 establishments.

Four of the other poor' homes are in Wimborne and one in Ferndown.

The report says the Portland home's staffing, complaints and protection procedure, and management and administration were all seriously lacking.

Inspectors also found no recreational and social activities had taken place in a year. But the home was said to meet residents' expectations and provide access to health care professionals.

The report found staff treated residents with respect and kindness, the service did well by promoting contact with family and friends and food featured fresh produce.

In contrast, seven care homes across Weymouth and West Dorset received the maximum three-star rating.

Weymouth's Alexandra Road care home, Bay Tree Lodge in Rodwell, and Legh House in Wyke Regis all rated as excellent'.

Bymead House in Charmouth, Grassington House in Dorchester, Lytchetts in Broadmayne, and The Hyde in Bridport also received top marks.

Proprietor of Lytchetts, Carl Borries said: "We got an excellent rating through bloody hard work. It's been run here by the same family for the last 18 years.

"We're in a nice rural setting in Broadmayne and we look to keep residents occupied, stimulated and well fed. And we have a very friendly team of staff whom we couldn't do without."

The manager of Bay Tree Lodge, June Simpson said: "We're very pleased with being thought of so highly. It's appreciated for the work we do.

"I think it's because we're such a small home with only six residents and we provide quite a homely atmosphere."

The CSCI's new ratings from zero to three stars categorise services as poor, adequate, good or excellent.

To see how other care services are rated and read full reports on each one visit CSCI's website at csci.org.uk A spokesman for the Commission for Social Care Inspection, Ray Veasey said: "There have been some encouraging improvements at the home, although they need to continue to make progress to achieve better standards of care and the better quality rating. This will be examined in more detail in an inspection in the near future."