Habit bad example
Dismay at home inspection
Efforts to stop children at a Stirling Council residential home from smoking were undermined by the sight of staff puffing outside the complex.
That was the conclusion of inspectors who visited the Brucefield Residential Service in Bannockburn.
Staff there have now been issued with advice on stopping smoking , and the council has been encouraged to do more at the home to combat the habit.
Inspectors, visiting in October, did notice improvements in the running of the home which accommodates up to five children and young people at any one time.
However, they were less impressed by the staff ’s smoking.
In their report published earlier this month the inspectors said: “Brucefield does not currently have a policy on creating a tobacco-free culture and we thought the service could do more to help young people make healthier choices around smoking.
“The most recent statistics in Scotland show smoking prevalence in 69 per cent of accommodated young people when compared with three per cent of young people in the general population.
“Role modelling is shown to have a significant impact on these figures and therefore it was disappointing to learn staff smoke outside Brucefield.
“Stirling Council should, in partnership with all stakeholders, develop a policy to support a tobaccofree culture at Brucefield. This policy should include a number of measures to support young people to make healthier choices around smoking. Where necessary, Stirling Council should deliver training to help staff explore and understand the complexities of tobacco issues when working with looked-after young people.”
The council’s education committee heard on Thursday that a local smoking policy had now been introduced in line with the council’s own smoking policy and information provided to staff regarding the council’s smoking cessation initiative.
Overall, the care home was graded as good for care and support and for staffing, and adequate for environment and management and leadership.
However, the inspectors acknowledged that the management team had worked hard to meet previous requirements and recommendations and it was merely felt too early to measure the impact in terms of outcomes for young people at Brucefield.
They also noted that, while delayed, there were proposals for improving the building.
They added: “Brucefield’s grading history suggests a difficulty in sustaining improvement and we recognise the significant number of management changes in recent years.
“A new registered manager and external manager were recently appointed and we hope this is the beginning of strong and stable leadership which can bring benefits for the young people living there.”
Inspectors noted the home had reviewed its use of a “sanctions-based approach to managing behaviour” and said they had received mostly positive feedback from young people they spoke to at the home who said they felt supported.
Two told them the quality of staff varied but that they always had someone to talk to if needed.”
Officials told Thursday’s committee: “The inspection was positive about the culture change within Brucefield and the introduction of new systems which supported staff practice, supervision processes and staff training.
“Young people’s health needs were being supported through a robust care plan and evidence of multi-agency links. Refurbishment is now almost completed.”