Fife charity threatened with closure after 'serious concerns' raised

A charity that works with children in Fife has been told it must improve or face closure after receiving a damning inspection report.

The Care Inspectorate raised “serious and significant concerns” about the quality of care being provided at Touch Trust in Dunfermline.

The national watchdog has threatened to cancel the registration of the charity, which operates from St Margaret’s Church of Scotland, unless there is “significant improvement” in around three weeks.

It comes after the charity launched the Touch Trust Kids Club on October 21 last year, replacing the Garvock after-school club, which closed in August.

Members of the City of Dunfermline area committee handed over £14,654 to establish the service after the trust said that it would step up and take on all of the former Garvock club’s registered children and families.

The Care Inspectorate’s improvement notice cites five areas with issues – including staff deployment, staff training, use of transport, environmental risk, and rules around medication.

A spokesperson for the Care Inspectorate said: “An inspection has identified serious and significant concerns about the quality of care experienced by children at Touch Trust in Dunfermline.

“We understand this is a difficult and distressing time for the children, their families, and staff at the service.

“However, our first priority is always the health and wellbeing of children.

“Because of our concerns, we have issued an Improvement Notice to the service. This sets out the significant improvements that must be made within a specified timeframe.

“We are in contact with the service and are monitoring them to follow up on the required improvements.”

It added: “The Care Inspectorate hereby gives you notice that unless there is a significant improvement in the provision of the service, it intends to make a proposal to cancel your registration in terms of section 64 of the Act.”

“Please note that where more than one improvement is specified, failure to demonstrate compliance with any one of the improvements within the required timescale may result in us proceeding to make a proposal to cancel registration.”

Touch Trust has been contacted for comment.