A care home which was placed in special measures after “risk of harm” was found last year has shut down.
Houndswood House Care Home in Harper Lane, Radlett, was rated ‘requires improvement’ in a CQC report published at the start of this month.
However, by the time the inspection started on July 7, the provider had already made the decision to close the home.
Although it has capacity for up to 50 people requiring nursing or personal care, only seven remained in the home at the time and arrangements were being made for them to be moved into alternative accommodation.
The care home is now listed as permanently closed.
A previous CQC inspection, the first under a new provider and published on June 25, 2025, found the care home ‘inadequate’ in all areas and placed it in special measures.
“People were at risk of harm because medicines were not managed safely,” it said.
“The provider did not identify and manage risk or recognise safeguarding issues and failed to consistently report these to external bodies.
“There were not enough staff to care for people safely and this led to some people waiting too long for assistance and others telling us they felt lonely.”
Inspectors saw people “distressed waiting for care” and were told staff were “impatient and unkind”, although other residents said staff were kind but lacked the time for social interactions.
There were 31 living at the home at the time.
A further inspection in January 2026 saw the rating lifted to ‘requires improvement’ but still found breaches of regulations in relation to person-centred care, managing risk, staffing, and good governance.
The latest inspection noted further improvements and Houndswood House was no longer deemed in breach of regulations. Although judged ‘requires improvement’ in three areas and overall, it was found ‘good’ for being safe and well led.
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There had been issues with the water supply since September 2025, which had still not been resolved. However, inspectors found residents were “unphased by the need to use bowls for personal care and hair washing” and felt the team managed the issue well.
Generally, feedback from residents, staff, and families was positive.
Prior to the 2025 report, Houndswood House held a ‘good’ rating. It received a formal warning in 2013 over basic needs failures but was seen as having turned itself around by 2015.
A spokesperson for the home confirmed it closed on July 31 following the CQC inspection, which "went really well".
They added that they inherited many issues upon taking over the home and worked through the challenges to improve, as was borne out by each subsequent report improving on the last.
"We, however, could not appease Hertfordshire County Council," the spokesperson added. "With the embargo that was placed on us - and not lifted even after CQC rated us as not in breach - we just could not continue maintaining the building, the full staff complement, and dwindling numbers. Even with inquiries, we were not able to admit new residents.
"Finally a business decision was taken to close the home. We worked with every family individually and assisted them to find the best home they could transfer their relative to.
"We have received so many complements on the way we personally handled each and every transfer.
"It is a sad loss to have closed such a beautiful home, but one had to be practical."
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