A CARE home in Basildon has been criticised for the poor care it provides – including the way one resident who was allowed to put cooking oil in their hair was at risk of setting fire to themselves while smoking.

Herondale was rated inadequate following a visit from the CQC – which picked up notable failings in the level of protection from abuse and avoidable harm. The care home's rating remains unchanged from its last assessment in 2025.

The CQC said assessments were missing for people with known risks such as mental health, ill health, diabetes, stroke, depression, personal care, allegations, missing persons and falls which put people at risk of avoidable harm. One person had a risk assessment for consuming food in an unsafe way but the care home did not join up the risk of the smoker putting cooking oil in their hair and setting fire to themselves.

A statement said: "Where risk assessments were in place they did not always capture information in the best way and information did not triangulate between assessments.

"For example, one person had a risk assessment for consuming condiments in an unsafe way. Within this risk assessment it stated they put cooking oil in their hair. The known risk of putting cooking oil in their hair was not included in the person's smoking risk assessment, which put them at risk of setting fire to themselves whilst smoking. We shared our concerns related to risk assessments with the provider. They assured us they would make improvements."

The CQC said people's health and safety were not always monitored to ensure they were kept safe. One person who required staff supervision at all times was able to leave the service via the front door without staff's knowledge which had led to them being reported missing. Action was taken to reduce the risk of this happening again, including fitting a door sensor and new keypad entry codes.

A statement added: "Processes were not effective in assessing risks. We identified multiple risk assessments missing for people with known risks such as mental health, ill health, diabetes, stroke, depression, personal care, allegations, missing persons and falls. This put people at risk of avoidable harm. "

The care home has been asked for comment.