A Mt Wellington rest home is being temporarily managed by the Auckland District Health Board after an investigation found there was evidence of neglect.

The clinical nurse manager at Sylvia Park Rest Home was suspended after an unannounced Ministry of Health inspection in July.

The inspection was made after "serious concerns'' were raised about "vulnerable residents" by the Health and Disability Commissioner.

The inspection found care plans were written without clear guidelines for staff, and there was no process to ensure the necessary number of staff were on duty. There was also a lack of communication between residents and their families.

No evidence of abuse was found but other shortcomings included managing falls, clinical care, incident reporting, infection control, procedures for patients with catheters, hours worked by staff, physical environment and the state of equipment.

The complaint about the 47-bed rest home and hospital facility was ''substantiated''.

Temporary manager Cindy Holmes said improvements were underway.

''There are signs of good progress.''

Co-owner Wen Xing Yu, who is also an owner of Kindred Rest Home in Epsom, said she was disappointed with how residents were managed under the former clinical manager.

"Of course I'm not happy about it. But we have a temporary manager now. Yes, things are better."

Owners are advertising for a senior registered nurse to become the new clinical manager.

The Health and Disability Commissioner received 102 complaints about rest homes in the 2010/2011 year, making up nine per cent of all complaints about health and disability providers.

- © Fairfax NZ News