- Care home
The Gables
Assessment report published 17 June 2025
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
Date of Assessment: 16 April to 07 May 2025. This service is a residential care home providing support to older people living with dementia.
This was a responsive inspection, to follow up on the breaches previously identified. At the last inspection, the service was in breach of 7 regulations relating to consent, safe care and treatment, safeguarding, premises, governance, staffing, and statement of purpose. At our last inspection, the location overall was rated requires improvement, at this inspection our judgement remains the same.
At this inspection we found the breaches previously identified at the last inspection relating to consent, safe care and treatment, safeguarding, staffing and statement of purpose had been met. However, we identified some new or continuing issues in relation to premises and governance, which meant the service continued to be in breach of these 2 regulations. We found 3 new issues in relation to premises which had not previously been identified. We also identified 1 new breach in relation to staff recruitment. Although the interim manager was proactive in addressing these once we informed them. We found some potential issues had not been identified by the existing audit processes. Medicine records were not all consistent and policies required review. We found staff recruitment files did not always contain all of the legally required information.
However, since the last inspection the interim manager had made significant improvements to the service and changes to the working culture of the home, which had improved people’s experience of the care provided. Staff now worked together as a team and understood how to provide people with person centred care. The provider had made a number of improvements to the premises, in order to make the service safer for people.
Whilst there was further work to be undertaken in relation to specific aspects of the service, a significant amount of the changes required had been made.
We have asked the provider for an action plan in response to the concerns found at this assessment.
People's experience of this service
People and relatives spoken with were very positive overall and many acknowledged the improvements to the service which had been made by the new management team. Their feedback included, “Since the new manager came, it’s been much better” and “Since the new manager came, he’s smartened the place up.”
Staff consulted people about their care and ensured their needs were met. People were encouraged by staff to be as independent as possible, with staff support and guidance as needed.
People spoken with were all positive about their care. People enjoyed very positive interactions with staff who chatted to them and encouraged them with activities. People said staff were there for them and wanted to help them. People felt there were enough staff to meet their needs.
People were provided with a choice of meals and told us, “The food is good here.” We saw staff cater for people’s personal likes and preferences about their food. Staff kept people well hydrated, a relative commented, “They’re [staff] always chasing after people making sure they’re drinking enough.”
Relatives and people commented that it was a very homely and friendly service, “Like a home from home.”