- Care home
The Gables Retirement Home
Assessment report published 20 June 2025
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
Date of Assessment: 16 April to 7 May 2025. The service is a residential care home providing support to adults, some of whom live with dementia. The service is registered to support up to 35 people. At the time of our inspection, 17 people were living at the service.
This assessment was carried out in response to information of concern received.
The providers systems and processes to oversee risk and quality of the service were not effective. Oversight of accidents and incidents, falls, medicines and care planning failed to identify risk or drive improvements in these areas. This placed people at risk of harm. Medicines were not safely managed or stored in line with best practice guidance. People’s care plans and risk assessments did not always contain sufficient or accurate information to support them safely.
A poor culture had developed between staff teams and leaders, which impacted on the quality-of-care people had received. Not all staff felt supported, or able to speak up. Staff did not always feel learning was shared within the team. The provider had identified this and had plans in place to improve the culture and promote staff well-being.
Staff were not always deployed effectively, or proactive in meeting people’s needs. Improvements were needed to ensure the provider was working in line with the principles of the Mental Capacity Act (2005).
A maintenance improvement plan was in place to improve the overall environment and facilities. However, people did have access to equipment they needed to keep safe. Staff felt the digital system for sharing information worked well. People’s religious and cultural needs were promoted. A multi-disciplinary team approach was reported to work well in ensuring people’s health and well-being needs were met. Relevant policies and procedures were in place to support people to make complaints. People were supported to make decisions about how they wished to be cared for at the end of their lives. The provider engaged with partners in the adult social care sector.
At our last inspection the provider was in breach of the legal regulation relating to governance. Not enough improvement had been made at this inspection and the provider remained in breach of regulation 17, good governance.
The provider was responsive to feedback about the service and took immediate action to address concerns about safety. Additionally, the provider shared information following this assessment about improvements that were being made.
People's experience of this service
People told us they felt safe using the service, and were satisfied with how safety incidents had been managed. One relative told us, “Staff have received further training since an incident [involving relative] and I feel they have a better understanding now of their needs.” We received mixed feedback on staffing levels. Some people felt staff did not always respond to requests for support promptly. A relative shared “Sometimes staff are busy and rushed.”
We received some feedback that staff needed to be more proactive in anticipating people’s needs. However, most people and relatives felt staff knew them well. One relative told us, “Staff meet [person’s] needs and they have always been happy there.” People and relatives confirmed they were involved in care planning, and that staff explained the support they provided, seeking consent to do so. Overall people enjoyed the meals, particularly the home cooked meals, and felt they had enough to eat and drink. People and relatives felt staff supported them well in accessing relevant healthcare support.
Whilst staff were task focused in their interactions with people, people were observed to be comfortable with staff. Staff respected people’s privacy. People and relatives felt staff were friendly. A relative said “Staff are all nice.” Some people and relatives felt further efforts were needed to encourage people to take part in activities and to promote people’s independence. We observed some activities taking place during our inspection.
Not everyone felt they had choices in their day-to-day care and support, this including timings of meals. However, the provider assured us they did not restrict choices. People and relatives told us they knew how to raise concerns.
People and relatives felt communication from management could be improved, as they felt they were not always involved or aware of changes in the running of the service.