A care home in Littleton Panell, which was criticised by the Care Quality Comm-ission (CQC), has new owners.

The Close home for elderly people with dementia has been bought by Georgetown Care Limited and has been renamed as The Haven.

In January the CQC told the previous owners, Jonny and Aurora Roche, to make urgent improvements after raising concerns, including of cleanliness.

Zena Chan, one of the directors of Georgetown Care based in Middlesex, said the care home had been thoroughly cleaned.

She said: “It has been steam cleaned and is absolutely odour free.”

Mrs Chan is a registered nurse who has over 46 years’ experience both in the NHS and private sector.

She said refurbishment of the bedrooms will be done gradually.

The care home, set in a 1920s detached home in High Street, caters for 12 people.

Mrs Chan runs George-town Care with her husband, Jerry, an accountant, and Bobby Mahabir, a registered mental health nurse.

Mrs Chan said: “We have a new manager in place. I am there two days a week. We are very hands on regarding the care and compliance with the CQC standards, and quality control.

“We bought the care home because we liked the area and the size of the home. With dementia, homes should be small. Our philosophy is to provide a homely, caring and friendly environment and to deliver a level of care appropriate to individual needs.”