Island care staff are praised in report

A Harris care home at the centre of concerns over staff shortages in the islands and the cost of its reliance on agency staff has been praised by the Care Inspectorate for the high level of service it provides to residents.

Leverburgh Care Home, which is operated by the Free Presbyterian Church, has recently faced criticism over a number of unfilled vacancies.

But the Care Inspectorate, in a report on an inspection of the home, which is in Ferry Road, highlighted that, while the shortage of staff “had led to the decision at times not to admit new residents to the home”,

“Interactions between staff and residents were good”

the manager, depute and senior staff at the home had worked in a “flexible way” to ensure the levels of care and safety of residents.

The report said: “We concluded that this was evidence of responsive leadership within the service which clearly prioritised safe working practices at all times. Care staff have obviously worked cooperatively to maintain safe staffing numbers.”

The Care Inspectorate report found that the home “continued to demonstrate major strengths in supporting each person’s wellbeing in a manner that promoted good individual outcomes.

“People who used the service told us about living in a care home where they were happy, and where staff were kind and caring”.

Inspectors said: “Interactions between staff and residents were good, and we observed people responding to these, enjoying the conversations and activity, within an environment that was comfortable and homely.”