A Highland care home has been threatened with closure following an inspection which identified 'serious and significant concerns' about the quality of care.
The Care Inspectorate has lodged an application with the sheriff to terminate the registration of Cradlehall Care Home in Inverness.
The regulator said this would allow it to seek alternative care arrangements for residents.
The home was rated good in all categories last year but recently changed hands.
It was previously run by HC-One, but is now operated by the West-Midlands-run group St Philips Care, which runs 28 homes across the UK.
The latest inspection,which is thought to have identified fresh concerns, is expected to be published after next week's court hearing.
A spokeswoman for St Philips Care said it stepped in to acquire the "troubled" care home after the previous owners failed to find a buyer but said the complex needs of residents had been difficult to manage, given its expertise lies in the residential care sector.
Tracy Atkins, chief operating officer said, “We always hold the happiness and wellbeing of our residents at the heart of all that we do.
"It was always our intention to partially close the home so that we could refurbish it.
"It may be that we need to close down the whole home, in order to achieve a better result in the longer term.
"We are working closely with NHS Highlands, to find the best solution for the residents in our care.”
A spokesman for the Care Inspectorate said: “An inspection has identified serious and significant concerns about the quality of care experienced by residents at Cradlehall Care Home in Inverness.
“Because of our concerns about the safety and wellbeing of residents we have submitted an application to the sheriff court seeking cancellation of the care home’s registration."
A spokesman for NHS Highland added: "We are concerned about the significant issues that have been raised regarding the quality of care experienced by the residents at Cradlehall Care Home.
"Over recent weeks, there has been coordinated daily Highland Health and Social Care Partnership presence in the care home and assessments of the health and wellbeing of all residents are being progressed.
"Our immediate priority is to ensure the safety and wellbeing of residents."
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