The Gables

On this page

• Overview
• Learning culture
• Safe systems, pathways and transitions
• Safeguarding
• Involving people to manage risks
• Safe environments
• Safe and effective staffing
• Infection prevention and control
• Medicines optimisation

Safe – this means we looked for evidence that people were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. This is the first assessment for this service. This key question has been rated good: This meant people were safe and protected from avoidable harm.

This service scored 75 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

The provider had a proactive and positive culture of safety, based on openness and honesty. Staff listened to concerns about safety and investigated and reported safety events. There had been new processes implemented on equipment checks to strengthen oversight following an incident at the service. Staff told us these were working well and providing additional assurances. Lessons were learnt to identify and embed improved practice. One staff member told us, “We have learning outcomes, we have a team discussion as part of our daily meetings and also during the team meetings which happen every couple of months”.

The provider worked with people and healthcare partners to establish and maintain safe systems of care, in which safety was managed or monitored. Staff made sure there was continuity of care, including when people moved between different services. Pre-admission assessments were completed prior to a person moving into the service to ensure their needs could be met. People’s care plans demonstrated they were supported to access healthcare services when needed. There were systems in place to share important information about people should they need to go to hospital in the event of an emergency.

The provider worked with people and healthcare partners to understand what being safe meant to them and the best way to achieve that. Staff concentrated on improving people’s lives while protecting their right to live in safety, free from bullying, harassment, abuse, discrimination, avoidable harm and neglect. Staff shared concerns quickly and appropriately. All people and relatives we spoke with told us they felt safe living at The Gables. One person told us, “I feel safe, I can lock my door, and I know there are staff around when I need them”. A relative shared, "I visit my (relative) 2 to 3 times a week, the staff are always welcoming and there seem to be plenty of them, although they do seem to change a lot, I think they use a lot of agency. I go home feeling (relative) is safe and well cared for”. Staff had received training in safeguarding and vulnerable adults and understood their roles and responsibilities to ensure people were safe. Staff told us they felt comfortable raising concerns, and these would be listened to and acted upon by the management team.

Staff worked with people to understand and manage risks by thinking holistically. Staff provided care to meet people’s needs that was safe, supportive and enabled people to do the things that mattered to them. We observed people were able to walk around freely in the communal areas. We observed staff carrying out safe transitions when supporting people with moving and handling practices. Risks relating to the service and to individual people were assessed. These included risks associated with the environment, mobility, skin care and eating and drinking. Risk assessments formed part of the support plan for each person.

The provider detected and controlled potential risks in the care environment. During our inspection additional checks were being completed to ensure equipment, facilities and technology supported the delivery of safe care. Environmental checks were carried out by both external contractors and internal trained staff to ensure the service was safe, clean and free from hazards. People’s rooms were personalised and arranged in a way which met their support needs and choices. The provider had a robust contingency plan in place in the event of an emergency, such as fire, flooding and electrical concerns.

The provider made sure there were enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff, who received effective support, supervision and development. They worked together well to provide safe care that met people’s individual needs. Staff were recruited safely and pre-employment checks were carried out to ensure members of staff were safe to work with vulnerable people. These included references and Disclosure and Barring Service checks (DBS). A DBS is a criminal record check to ensure the staff member is of good character to work with people at the service. Staff had received the relevant training to ensure they met people’s care needs. Additional training and opportunities were provided to staff who chose to gain further skills.

The provider assessed and managed the risk of infection. They detected and controlled the risk of it spreading and shared concerns with appropriate agencies promptly. People’s rooms were clean and kept tidy and communal spaces were cleaned regularly. Staff had received training in infection prevention, and we observed them wearing appropriate personal protective equipment. One relative shared with us, “Staff are always wearing the appropriate PPE when we visit”. The service had a policy and procedures in place for Infection Prevention and Control, and regular audits were completed by staff.

The provider made sure that medicines and treatments were safe and met people’s needs, capacities and preferences. Staff involved people in planning, including when changes happened. There were systems and processes in place to support safe storage, administration and disposal of medicines. Records of people’s prescribed medicines were well-maintained and followed national guidance including recording people’s allergies. Staff had received training and had been competency assessed; staff were required to have 5 observational competencies before being signed off as competent to administer medicines. Most people told us they were happy with how their medicines were managed. One person told us, “The staff give me my medication, I have never had any problems with them”.