Care home remains unsafe after death - report

A care home which was placed in special measures following the death of a resident remains unsafe, inspectors have said.

The Gables in Netley, Hampshire, was previously rated "inadequate" by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in December 2023, after the death prompted concerns over falls and risks from failing health.

Inspectors said the home had improved in some areas but residents were still not adequately protected from the risk of harm.

They upgraded the home's overall rating to "requires improvement".

In December, the CQC said it had issued four warning notices to the home's owner Sonrisa Care Ltd.

It said its inspection, which was partly prompted by the death, revealed incidents involving an undetected fall and an error with a high-risk medicine.

Inspectors returned in May and June to check on progress.

Their report said: "Staff had not always identified or mitigated risks to people and people did not receive their medicines safely.

"The environment was not safe, nor was it completely clean.

"Staff did not have a sound understanding of legislation and good practice in relation to the use of any restrictions."

The CQC said it identified seven breaches of regulations, including those relating to safe care and staffing.

However it said a "motivated" new interim manager was in place.

The home was rated as "good" for being caring and responsive and leadership was no longer "inadequate".

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