The Gables

Updated 28 January 2022

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of CQC’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic we are looking at how services manage infection control and visiting arrangements. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection prevention and control measures the provider had in place. We also asked the provider about any staffing pressures the service was experiencing and whether this was having an impact on the service.

This inspection took place on 14 January 2022 and was announced. We gave the service one days’ notice of the inspection.

Updated 28 January 2022

About the service

The Gables is a care home registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to eight people diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorders and learning disabilities. At the time of our inspection there were eight people living at the home in one adapted building in a residential area of Ferndown.

The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. Registering the Right Support 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. Although the service is larger than Registering the Right Support recommends, people using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

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

People told us they felt safe and enjoyed living at The Gables. People were relaxed and happy with staff, who knew them very well. People received a personalised service from friendly, supportive staff who treated people with patience, kindness, dignity and respect. Relatives spoke highly of the management and staff team and commented they were very happy with the service and level of care their relative received.

There were robust recruitment processes in place and people were supported by a consistent team of staff who knew them well. There was an ongoing process of staff recruitment and clear systems in place to monitor appropriate staffing levels to ensure people were cared for safely.

Staff spoke knowledgably on how to identify and report abuse and were well supported in their roles. Staff received regular supervision and annual appraisals to enable them to carry out their roles competently. Staff received core and specialist training and support to assist people in ways to meet their needs.

Risks to people’s health, safety and well-being were regularly assessed, reviewed and updated. People and their families were fully included and involved in their care and support. People's views and opinions were listened to and acted upon wherever possible.

People’s health care needs were met, and staff supported them to see healthcare professionals when appropriate. Medicines were managed, stored and administered safely. People were supported to take their medicines safely by staff who had received the appropriate levels of training.

Communication styles and methods were tailored to individual people and staff supported people to understand the choices available to them.

People received healthy, nutritious meals which they enjoyed planning. Meal times were a social occasion where people could choose to spend time with others. People told us they enjoyed the meals which were, “very nice”.

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; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

The service was well led by a registered manager whoessionals and staff. There were clear quality assurance systems in place to drive improvement and ensure the home offered a safe, effective, caring and responsive service.

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

Rating at last inspection

This last rating for this service was good (published 24 May 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.