CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at The Gables Rest Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm, and there were enough staff. Inspectors found weaknesses in medicine records and guidance, although they found no evidence of harm and the manager acted immediately.
- Effective?
- Good
- People's needs and choices were assessed with input from relatives and health professionals. Staff had relevant training and supported people with food, drink, healthcare and legal decision-making.
- Caring?
- Good
- People had good relationships with staff and were treated with kindness, dignity and respect. Staff supported people's independence and involved them in decisions about their care.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans reflected people's needs, preferences and histories. People were supported with communication, activities, relationships, complaints and end of life care.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Relatives, staff and health professionals described an open culture focused on people's needs. The manager and provider carried out quality checks, but some checks and regulatory notifications needed strengthening.
What inspectors found, May 2022
Rated Good; inspectors found kind, personalised care, with some medicine and monitoring records needing improvement.
Inspectors visited on 31 March and 4 April 2022. The first visit was unannounced and the second was announced. They spoke with people, relatives, staff and health professionals, and checked care records, medicines, recruitment files and quality checks.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, suitable training, good relationships and care that was personalised to people's needs and choices.
There were some areas to improve. Records for medicine stock and staff medicine competence were not fully developed. Some guidance for 'when required' medicines was not consistently available. The manager took immediate action after the inspection.
This was the first inspection of the newly registered service. The previous provider's service had also been rated Good, in a report published on 28 March 2019.
Kind relationships
People had close bonds with staff. Relatives and inspectors described staff as caring, friendly and respectful.
“People had developed close bonds with the staff who supported them and were relaxed and comfortable when chatting with staff.” from the report
Personalised care
Care plans included people's preferences and histories. Staff involved relatives and adapted support as people's needs changed.
“People's care plans and risk assessments reflected their care needs, preferences and individual histories.” from the report
Enough staff and training
Inspectors found enough staff to provide care, and staff received an induction and specialist training relevant to people's needs.
“There was enough staff to care for people. People did not have to wait long if they wanted assistance from staff.” from the report
Activities and family contact
People could take part in activities they enjoyed without being forced. The home also supported contact with important people during the pandemic.
“People were supported to enjoy a variety of interesting things to do, such as manicures and pamper sessions, craft projects, including making Easter bonnets, and themed events.” from the report
Medicine records and guidance
needs fixingRecords of medicine stock and ongoing staff competency checks needed further development. Guidance for some 'when required' medicines was not always available, although no harm was found and immediate action was taken.
“There was no evidence of harm to people, but systems to record medicine stock received required further development.” from the report
Recruitment checks
minorThe home completed references and DBS checks, but planned to add further checks to identify gaps in applicants' previous employment.
“The registered manger planned to introduce further checks on potential staff applications, so they could easily identify and follow up any gaps in previous employment.” from the report
Monitoring records
needs fixingThe manager planned to improve records of infection control spot checks and premises checks, including window restrictors and flooring.
“The registered manager planned to enhance the recording of their premises spot checks to evidence checks were undertaken on window restrictors and the integrity of flooring.” from the report
DoLS notifications
needs fixingSome required notifications about Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards approvals had not been sent to CQC. The manager acted immediately and changed procedures.
“We found some notifications had not been sent to us relating to approvals for DoLS.” from the report
- 01What changes have you made to record medicine stock and staff competency checks?
- 02How do staff now find the correct guidance for 'when required' medicines?
- 03How are infection control spot checks and checks on window restrictors and flooring recorded?
- 04Have procedures for notifying CQC about DoLS approvals been corrected?
- 05How will you involve my relative and family in reviewing their care plan and risk assessments?
This inspection covered all five CQC key questions and included infection prevention and control; it was the first inspection of the newly registered service. This explanation was written from the published report of 12 May 2022 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 Rest Home
3 rated inspections over 6 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- May 2022Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2019
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 2 August 2019.
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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What to check when you visit
At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Worcestershire
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 £980 to £1,260 a week. 85 can care for a couple. 9 years' experience on average.
“I have never met a person who is so kind and thinks about others before himself to such an extent as Chris Malagala.”
“She was very caring, kind and patient to all his needs, she built up a wondetful rapport with him, she was dedicated and was there for him through good times as well as through the tough times”
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.