Care service‘must improve’
A formal improvement notice has been issued by the Care Inspectorate over the failing Hamilton Home Care service.
Following a recent inspection which raised“serious concerns”, inspectors have said South Lanarkshire Council“must make urgent improvements”.
The council have until January 31 to make a raft of essential changes to safeguard the welfare of service users or risk losing their registration to run the service.
Four key areas of concern listed by the Care Inspectorate included a lack of knowledge and experience in management which requires additional support.
Inspectors have also said that the council must also ensure all staff are able to identify service users who may be at risk from harm or abuse and that they know when and how to report and escalate concerns including to appropriate authorities.
The notice also demands the council carry out a comprehensive care review that includes a full assessment of service user care needs and devise a detailed support plan and make relevant risk assessments.
A spokesperson for the Care Inspectorate said:“the improvement notice we have issued clearly lays out the improvements we must see so that the care experienced by people who rely on this service improves quickly.
“We will visit this service again soon to check on progress and if we are not satisfied that the matters raised are being addressed urgently we will not hesitate to take further action.
“Everyone in Scotland has the right to safe, compassionate care which meets their needs and respects their rights.
“Anyone with a concern can contact our helpline on 0345 600 9527.”
Days before the notice was issued on December 17, the council’s social work committee was told of a similar report into the care at home service in Rutherglen and Cambuslang.
An action plan is being prepared for the Rutherglen and Cambuslang service and some changes have already been implemented in a bid to turn the Hamilton service’s fortunes around.
A spokesman for South
Lanarkshire Council said:“we have been working with the Care
Inspectorate for some time on our plans to make improvements to the Hamilton Home Care service.
“Following the inspection an action plan has been developed and progress has already been made, and work is continuing to make further improvements.
“This will continue as a matter of urgency, with the fundamental aim being to ensure that all parts of the care at home service reach the required high standards.
“We absolutely understand that service users and their families expect and deserve no less than these high standards. All the feedback indicates that our Home Care services continue to provide a much-valued service, with high satisfaction levels being reported.”
A seven-year decline in the Hamilton Home Care service was revealed in August last year after opposition councillors brought the latest report from March 2019 to light.
Grades of one“weak”and two “unsatisfactory”had been applied to aspects of the home care service in Hamilton and the council has failed to meet some of the Care Inspectorate’s required improvements for more than two years.