Inverness care home makes improvements after Scotland’s Care Inspectorate issued ‘weak’ gradings

An Inverness care home which was at risk of having its registration withdrawn has made the necessary improvements demanded by Scotland’s care watchdog.

An inspection of Castlehill Care Home last June gave a “weak” grading for leadership, staff, support for residents’ wellbeing, and how well care and support are provided while the setting was considered “adequate”.

As a result, the Care Inspectorate issued a notice stating that unless there was a significant improvement in provision of the service, it intended to make a proposal to cancel its registration.

But following an unannounced inspection in December, inspectors found all improvements at the home had been made.

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Castlehill Care Home, which is registered to provide a care service to a maximum of 88 older people, was issued with an improvement notice on October 2 2024 - although at the time the operators, Morar Living, objected to “substantial” parts of the report.

There was an unannounced follow-up inspection which took place between November 26 and 27 and another on December 2, conducted by three inspectors.

At the time, there were 76 people living in the care home.

The inspectors spoke to 17 people using the service, 12 family members; 14 staff and two visiting professionals and also observed practice and daily life.

Their report stated that improvement was evident in most required areas made during the previous inspection and as a result, people's needs were being met more effectively.

“There has been a positive shift in the culture of the home which meant staff were able to challenge poor practice which could impact on people's health, emotional wellbeing and dignity,” the report said.

“There had been a significant improvement in staff competence and skills to safely care and support people.”

Key areas of practice such as supporting people with stress and distress and safeguarding had improved significantly and action had been taken to ensure people's health and wellbeing benefited from access to drinks and improving people's meal time experience.

“The service had taken action to improve staffing levels and skill mix which meant staff were available to respond to people,” it said.

The inspectors said care plans required further work to improve the accuracy of people's personal plans.

They said while they saw some good detail in some plans, others lacked sufficient detail for staff to provide person-centred care and support.

“Overall care plans were factual, but held limited information about outcomes for people,” the report stated.

Morar Living has been contacted for comment.

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