CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at The Gables Residential Home Limited
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Inspectors found that risks, staffing, medicines, infection control, equipment and accidents were managed safely.
- Effective?
- Good
- This focused inspection did not assess Effective. The previous rating was used when calculating the overall rating.
- Caring?
- Outstanding
- This focused inspection did not assess Caring. The previous rating was used when calculating the overall rating.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This focused inspection did not assess Responsive. The previous rating was used when calculating the overall rating.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found good management oversight, regular audits, open communication and a culture of learning and improvement.
What inspectors found, January 2023
The Gables Residential Home Limited was rated Good; inspectors found safe, well-managed care, with staff mask use noted as a point to check.
This was an unannounced, focused inspection on 24 November 2022. One inspector spoke with five people living at the home, two relatives, managers and three staff. They also checked care records, medicines records, staff recruitment files, maintenance records and management documents.
The home was rated Good for Safe and Well-led. Inspectors found people were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Risks, medicines, staffing, cleanliness, equipment and accidents were managed appropriately. People and relatives gave positive feedback about the care and staffing.
The home had systems for checking quality, learning from incidents and involving people, relatives and staff. Staff were not wearing face masks when the inspector arrived, but the manager showed risk assessments and explained the decision. Inspectors said they were assured about infection prevention and control.
People felt safe
People said they felt safe, and staff understood how to recognise and report abuse. The home also investigated safeguarding concerns.
“People confirmed they felt safe.” from the report
Safe staffing
Inspectors found enough suitably skilled staff to meet people's needs. The home kept staffing levels at full-occupancy levels even though six beds were empty.
“There were sufficient staff on duty to provide the care and support people needed.” from the report
Medicines managed well
Medicines were stored, administered and recorded safely. Staff were trained and checked as competent before giving medicines.
“Medicines were organised, and people were receiving their medicines as prescribed.” from the report
Strong management checks
Managers used regular audits and reports to monitor care, medicines, infection control, accidents and the building's safety.
“Systems were in place to provide oversight of the quality of the home.” from the report
Good involvement of families
The home sought feedback from people, relatives and staff. Relatives were kept updated and encouraged to take part in activities.
“The registered manager sought continuous feedback from people, their families and staff.” from the report
Staff were not wearing masks on arrival
minorStaff were not wearing face masks when the inspector arrived. The manager had risk assessments and explained the decision, and inspectors said they were assured about infection control.
“On arrival to the home we found the staff were not wearing masks.” from the report
- 01What is the current policy on staff wearing face masks, and when would this policy change?
- 02How do you review each person's infection risks and the home's infection control risk assessment?
- 03How do you make sure there are enough permanent staff when there is sickness or annual leave?
- 04How are medicines audits completed, and what happens if an error or shortfall is found?
- 05How will families be involved in giving feedback and reviewing the quality of care?
This was an unannounced focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only; the other ratings carried over from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 18 January 2023 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, June 2019
The Gables Residential Home Limited was rated Good overall, with Outstanding caring, although some records and activities could be improved.
Inspectors made an unannounced visit on 22 May 2019. They spoke with people living at the home, relatives, staff and a health professional. They reviewed care, medicine and staff records, as well as records about how the home was managed.
The home was rated Good for safe, effective, responsive and well-led care. Caring was rated Outstanding. People and relatives spoke very highly of the home. Inspectors found kind staff, personalised care, good food, activities and a clean, safe environment.
The home supported up to 20 older people who were mobile and fairly independent. The home said it could not support people with complex needs. Inspectors noted that some checks were informal and not always recorded, and that some people wanted more varied activities.
The home had also been rated Good at the previous inspection, published in December 2016. This inspection found that it continued to meet the characteristics of Good care, with caring judged Outstanding.
People's views mattered
People and relatives were involved in care planning and could make suggestions. Inspectors found that requests were acted on quickly.
“They were fully involved in decisions about their care and the running of the home.” from the report
Safe care
Risks were reviewed, medicines were managed safely and staff understood how to protect people from harm.
“People continued to receive a safe service because risks to their health and safety were well managed.” from the report
Food and environment
People had several meal choices, fresh food and drinks available throughout the day. The home was clean, bright and well maintained.
“The mealtime was calm and unhurried and was a very happy, relaxed and enjoyable experience.” from the report
Some checks were not recorded
minorThe manager said informal checks of the environment and people's general safety would be formalised and recorded. Inspectors said the lack of formal reporting had not harmed people at the time.
“The registered manager told us moving forward they would formalise these and record their findings.” from the report
More varied activities
minorMost activities were positive, but one person was bored with bingo and another wanted more gentle exercise. The report says this was passed to the manager.
“However, a person said they were getting bored of the bingo and another asked for more gentle exercises.” from the report
Meeting records could be clearer
minorPeople and relatives were able to share their views, but the minutes of meetings did not record people's comments. The manager said this would be improved.
“Whilst the minutes were comprehensive they did not include comments made by people.” from the report
- 01Can you support my relative's needs if they become less mobile or develop more complex care needs?
- 02How are informal environmental and safety checks now recorded?
- 03What activities and gentle exercise are available, and how do you respond when people become bored with an activity?
- 04How are people's comments and suggestions recorded in meetings and followed up?
- 05How will you support my relative to continue their hobbies, friendships, faith or community activities?
This was a planned, unannounced inspection covering all five CQC questions, including the premises and care provided; the home did not provide nursing care. This explanation was written from the published report of 19 June 2019 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 Residential Home Limited
3 rated inspections over 6 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- January 2023Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: OutstandingResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at The Gables Residential Home Limited →
- June 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at The Gables Residential Home Limited →
- December 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 6 December 2010.
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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39 live-in carers within about an hour of South Gloucestershire
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Most charge £1,020 to £1,280 a week. 32 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
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