CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at The Gables Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that the home was preventing and controlling infection. This included safe use of protective equipment, testing, cleaning, visiting and outbreak arrangements.
- Effective?
- Good
- This question was not rated in this inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This question was not rated in this inspection.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This question was not rated in this inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- This question was not rated in this inspection.
What inspectors found, December 2020
Inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured that the home had good infection prevention and control measures.
This was an announced CQC thematic review of infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic. Inspectors visited on 6 November 2020. There were 31 people living at the home.
Inspectors found good practice in keeping relatives updated, arranging socially distanced visits, training staff in infection control and using personal protective equipment. The home also had infection control audits and checks on handwashing and protective equipment.
Inspectors were assured that the home was preventing infections, using protective equipment safely, supporting testing and managing visiting, admissions, cleaning and possible outbreaks. The service was inspected but not rated, so this report is not a full quality rating.
Keeping relatives informed
The home said it contacted a nominated relative or friend for each person weekly and sent updates about changes to coronavirus guidance and visiting.
“The registered manager told us a nominated relative and/or friend for each person was spoken with on a weekly basis to give them updates.” from the report
Staff infection control training
Staff had specific infection prevention and control training, including coronavirus training, handwashing and putting on and removing protective equipment.
“Staff had specific infection prevention and control training including COVID-19 training.” from the report
Checks and audits
The home completed infection control audits and carried out spot checks on staff handwashing and protective equipment.
“Infection prevention and control audits were completed. The registered manager undertook handwashing and PPE spot checks on staff.” from the report
Infection control arrangements
Inspectors were assured about the home's approach to visitors, social distancing, admissions, testing, cleaning, protective equipment and outbreak management.
“We were assured that the provider was making sure infection outbreaks can be effectively prevented or managed.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are relatives currently updated about changes to visiting rules and infection guidance?
- 02How often are staff handwashing and protective equipment practices checked now?
- 03What infection prevention and control training do new and existing staff receive?
- 04How does the home manage testing and admissions when someone may have an infection?
- 05What arrangements are in place to prevent or manage an outbreak?
This was a thematic review focused on infection prevention and control, and it did not provide a full rating of the other key questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 3 December 2020 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
What inspectors found, August 2018
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with a minor concern about bedroom doors being hard for some people with dementia to identify.
The inspection was unannounced and took place on 31 May 2018. One inspector, an assistant inspector and an expert by experience visited the home. They spoke with people living there, relatives, staff and a GP, observed care, and checked care plans, medicines, staff records, accidents, complaints and management records.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found suitable staffing, safe medicines systems, trained staff, good support with food and healthcare, kind care, personalised activities and effective management.
The home could accommodate up to 49 people and 29 people were living there during the visit. Inspectors found that the Good rating from January 2016 had been maintained. They noted one minor risk: many bedroom doors were plain white, which could make it harder for some people with dementia to find their rooms.
Safe staffing and medicines
Inspectors found enough staff to meet people's needs and safe recruitment checks. Medicines were administered as prescribed, with staff training and competency reviews.
“There were sufficient numbers of staff to meet people's needs effectively and in a timely manner.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff were attentive and compassionate. They supported people's dignity, privacy and independence during everyday care.
“One common theme throughout our inspection was how attentive, kind and compassionate staff were.” from the report
Personalised activities
Activities reflected people's interests, histories and wishes. People were supported to take part in trips, hobbies and community activities.
“People received a responsive service. Staff used their skills to support each person with a huge variety of meaningful stimulation.” from the report
Good support with food and healthcare
People received food suited to their preferences and needs, including fortified food where required. Staff helped people access GPs and other healthcare professionals.
“People had a choice of freshly sourced and prepared food and drinks.” from the report
Open management and improvement
The management team was visible and approachable. Staff, people and relatives could share views, and audits were used to identify and address issues.
“There continued to be good quality assurance systems in place that ensured the quality and safety of the service delivered, and drive improvement.” from the report
Bedroom doors may be difficult to identify
minorMany bedroom doors were plain white. Inspectors said this could make it harder for some people living with dementia, particularly those with limited mental capacity, to find their own room.
“This meant that for people living with dementia and where they had limited mental capacity that this increased the risk of them struggling to find their own room.” from the report
- 01How do you help people living with dementia recognise and find their bedroom?
- 02How will you respond if my relative's care needs or risks change?
- 03How are medicines checked, reviewed and explained to residents?
- 04How would you adapt activities to my relative's interests, abilities and cultural needs?
- 05How can relatives raise a concern, and how will the home keep us informed about the response?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five key questions and the overall quality of the home. This explanation was written from the published report of 1 August 2018 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
Every inspection of The Gables Care Home
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- December 2020Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- August 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2012
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 30 August 2012.
Ratings and report dates from the Care Quality Commission, Open Government Licence v3.0. A home can also be visited without a new rating being published, so the timeline shows published inspections.
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17 live-in carers within about an hour of Cambridgeshire
These are self-employed carers on PrimeCarers, the introductory agency that runs this directory. Each has a profile with their own rates and reviews from families, and you choose who to talk to.
Most charge £1,020 to £1,200 a week. 14 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
Every carer has had an enhanced DBS check in the last 18 months, ID and right-to-work checks and an online interview. Their skills and training are for you to check with them. Carers set their own rates, and who is free changes week to week.