Archived: Gables Manor

Updated 13 March 2020

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

The inspection was completed by one inspector.

Service and service type

Gables Manor is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service did not have a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. The previous registered manager had left the service and the current manager was in the process of completing their registration with the CQC. A registered manager and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We looked at information sent to us since the last inspection such as notifications about accidents and safeguarding alerts. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We sought feedback from the commissioners of the service.

We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with four people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with seven members of staff including the manager, a nurse, senior care worker, care worker, activities coordinator, handyman and the chef. We observed care and support provided in the communal areas of the service.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including the training matrix, quality audits, maintenance records, policies and procedures.

After the inspection

We reviewed additional information sent to us by the registered manager and spoke with two relatives of people using the service.

Updated 13 March 2020

About the service

Gables Manor is a residential and nursing home providing personal and nursing care to 19 people with learning disabilities and/or autism at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 20 people in one adapted building. There are two floors with bedrooms on the first floor and some ground floor bedrooms and communal areas.

The service demonstrated the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

The service was a large home, bigger than most domestic style properties. It is larger than current best practice guidance. However, the size of the service having a negative impact on people was mitigated by the building design fitting into the residential area and the other large domestic homes of a similar size. There were no identifying signs or anything else outside to indicate it was a care home. Staff were also discouraged from wearing anything that suggested they were care staff when coming and going with people.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People were happy living at the service. A person said, “The staff are nice; they are good to me.” A relative told us how they could tell from the person’s behaviour that they were content, happy and enjoyed participating in daily activities around the service.

People felt safe at the service and protected from the risk of abuse. Staff assessed risks to people’s health and safety and took action to keep them safe. There were enough staff to support people. Arrangements were in place for the safe management of people’s medicines.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests, although this was not always fully documented.

The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. The outcomes for people using the service reflected these principles and values. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.

Staff worked closely with other services to provide effective care and achieve good outcomes for people. People received a balanced diet based on their preferences. We have made a recommendation about monitoring people’s weight and nutritional status.

Staff were responsive to people’s individual needs and wishes and had an in-depth knowledge about each person. People were supported to access services outside the home and to participate in activities within the local community.

There was good leadership and management of the service. The quality of the service was monitored and when improvements were needed, action was taken to address these.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was Good (published 19 April 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.