A task force set up by Nottinghamshire County Council in January last year to offer specialist advice and support to older people care homes is having a positive effect.

The number of homes suspended by the council is at its lowest level in five years — six compared to 15 in 2013.

The council suspends its contract with homes that offer poor quality or inappropriate levels of care to their residents.

Suspensions mean the council does not place new council-funded residents at the home and closely monitors its care to ensure the safety and welfare of current residents is not at risk.

The task force has worked with 32 providers since its creation to plan and agree the required actions for improvement with clearly defined timescales.

A former Care Quality Commission manager is working for the council to share knowledge and expertise about the role of the CQC in helping to improve the quality of care services across the county.

Councillor Muriel Weisz, chairman of the council’s Adult Social Care and Health Committee, said: “I am very reassured that our extra efforts are paying dividends as the number of local care homes that we have concerns over are reducing.

“The vast majority of local care homes provide good standards of care and we have shown that care homes experiencing difficulties can be turned around with our support.”