Highland care at home service faces closure threat after 'serious and significant concerns'

An inspection of a care at home provider in the Highlands has found “serious and significant concerns” which could see the service close without immediate improvement.

The Care Inspectorate has issued an improvement notice for Sutherland Care at Home Service, which operates from within the Lawson Memorial Hospital, managed by NHS Highland.

A letter, issued to the health board, found “serious and significant concerns about the quality of care” experienced by users of the service.

By May 25, the service must make “significant improvements” or face the prospect of its registration being cancelled by the care body.

The service must ensure staff understand and fulfil their roles and responsibilities by promptly identifying, reporting and responding when there are changes in service users’ health, wellbeing or safety needs.

This includes when service users may be unhappy or at risk of harm.

It also noted staff at all levels should take appropriate actions necessary to ensure that service users consistently experience safe and compassionate care.

The Care Inspectorate recommended that the administering of medication was delivered by those who are “suitably trained” and their competency had been assessed.

A spokesperson for the Care Inspectorate said: “An inspection has identified serious and significant concerns about the quality of care experienced by service users of Sutherland Care at Home Service in Highland.

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

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

“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 and monitoring the service to follow up on the required improvements.”

An NHS Highland spokesperson said: “A planned Care Inspectorate inspection of NHS Highland’s Care at Home Service in Sutherland has highlighted a number of areas for improvement within the service.

“An Improvement Notice has been issued to the service and we will work closely with staff to put actions in place as soon as we can.

“A further statement will be issued next week once we have spoken with the service users.”