Young people's home in Airdrie threatened with closure again after 'serious concerns' raised

A care home for young people in North Lanarkshire has been told it must improve or face closure after receiving a damning inspection report again.

The Care Inspectorate raised “serious and significant concerns” about the quality of care being provided at Allinvale House in Airdrie after a similar report last year.

The national watchdog has threatened to cancel the registration of the care home, operated by Love @ Care, unless there is “significant improvement” in around two weeks.

Love @ Care says it has had no complaints from social workers or families, and that it feels “victimised” by the Care Inspectorate.

The service has been given until May 15 to ensure all allegations of misconduct, child and adult protection concerns are reported within 24 hours to relevant agencies.

By next month, the facility must also ensure the safety of young people by “consistently implementing adult and child protection procedures”.

The Care Inspectorate’s improvement notice cites seven areas with issues – including allegations of abuse, staff training, young people’s safety and rules around medication.

Last year, the watchdog highlighted four areas with issues.

By May 23, the centre must ensure that children and young people experience a high-quality environment which is “safe, hygienic, nurturing and well maintained”.

A spokesperson for the Care Inspectorate said: “An inspection has identified serious and significant concerns about the quality of care experienced by young people at Allinvale House, Airdrie.

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

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

“Because of our concerns about the safety of young people we have issued an Improvement Notice to the service.

“This sets out the significant improvements that must be made, swiftly, so that the care experienced by young people is of a standard they have a right to expect.

“We are working closely with partners including relevant local authorities to ensure that young people experience appropriate care during this difficult time.”

“Anyone with a concern can contact us on 0345 600 9527.”

Love @ Care says it feels “victimised” by the Care Inspectorate and claims it has received no complaints from social workers or families.

The CEO of Love @ Care says she has been left “feeling suicidal” by the inspection process. Lynn Black referenced the case of Ruth Perry, a head teacher in England, who took her own life while waiting for an Ofsted inspection report in January 2023.

“Similar to Ruth Perry who died after after a similar Ofsted inspection in England after completing suicide, the process and pressure of inspection is horrendous,” Ms Black said.

“We have complained on 14 occasions to the CI (Care Inspectorate), the CEO of the CI and Neil Gray, the health and social care minister.”

Ms Black said it had submitted a complaint about two inspectors at Allinvale House four years ago.

“Since then, we have felt victimised to the point that myself a director, has felt suicidal by the unjustified pressure, scrutiny, and lack of parity in comparison to other residential houses being inspected that is applied to our organisation,” she said.

Ms Black claims Love @ Care has been able to “get it right” in five other services and can “evidence great outcomes for young people” but that Allinvale “continues to yo-yo in its grading”.

“We feel that there is a systemic abuse of power in the Care Inspectorate whereby inspectors are unaccountable to anyone,” she said.

“This affects our ability to retain managers because they will not sustain the pressure applied to the organisation. There is nowhere to turn to and no one will listen.

“Love @ Care was created to bring love back to care and the improvement process has always been our priority.”

The Scottish Government said that if an organisation isn’t happy with how the Care Inspectorate handles a complaint, then it should contact the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman – the organisation that investigates complaints against public bodies in Scotland.

Love @ Care claims the Ombudsman won’t “interfere” on an inspection complaint.

The Ombudsman told STV News it cannot comment on individual cases nor would it confirm whether or not an investigation was under way.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The Care Inspectorate is an independent non-departmental body and therefore it is not appropriate for ministers or the Scottish Government to comment on individual complaints.

“If an individual or organisation is not content with the way the Care Inspectorate has handled a complaint, they can contact the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO).”

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