A care home previously given an “inadequate” rating has been criticised for not providing a “safe" or "completely clean" environment.

The Gables care home on St Mary’s Road in Netley Abbey was assessed by the Care Quality Commission during an inspection from May 21 to June 17.

Inspectors found the service remains inadequate for safety and requires improvement in effectiveness.

As reported, the care home had been rated “inadequate” as the CQC found people were “not safe and were at risk of avoidable harm” during an inspection in November.

READ MORE: People 'at risk of avoidable harm' at care home rated 'inadequate' by CQC

Six months later, the registered manager has left, and they have been replaced with an interim manager.

But the care home still has not made the necessary changes to improve its rating, the report said.

'The environment was not safe'

It said: “People were still not receiving a safe service; they were not adequately protected from the risk of harm.

"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. Staff were not fully supported in their role.”

The report also found that people did not experience a choice for their meals and lacked sufficient input into decisions about the home.

“We found five continuing breaches of regulations in relation to consent, safe care and treatment, safeguarding, governance and staffing. We identified 2 new breaches in relation to premises and lack of a statement of purpose”, the report said.

However, inspectors found the interim manager was motivated to make the required changes to improve the standard of care.

While people and relatives spoken to by inspectors said they were happy with their care, the inspection found elements of care “did not meet the expected standards”.

It was acknowledged that relatives whose loved ones had dementia liked the fact they were accommodated with people who did not have dementia, despite not being assured their needs were met if they could not communicate their wishes verbally.

The report added: “However people and relatives said overall they were satisfied with the care they received.

"They felt safe with staff and said they could raise concerns with them. They told us staff were kind and had time for them.”

The Gables declined to comment.