Care Inspectorate judges Highland Women’s Aid branch as ‘weak’ in two areas
A Highland organisation providing services to women and their children who have experienced domestic abuse has received two ‘weak’ ratings by care inspectors.
Inverness Women's Aid services includes refuge accommodation for up to 12 women and their children plus outreach support.
Following an unannounced visit, the Care Inspectorate judged the leadership and staff team to be weak and gave an ‘adequate’ rating in response to the question ‘How well do we support people's wellbeing?’.
• Call grow for rethink on funding proposals for Women's Aid services
• Fears for Highland women fleeing domestic abuse under plans to close refuge
• Refuge for women fleeing domestic abuse to continue in Inverness
The report comes as warnings have been sounded that Inverness Women’s Aid, along with other Women’s Aid groups across the Highlands, are at risk of closure under funding plans by Highland Council.
The Inverness refuge also found itself under threat of closure in early 2023, prompting fears that women’s lives could be put at risk and sparking an online petition to save it.
Two inspectors from the Care Inspectorate, which regulates the part of Inverness Women's Aid registered as a housing support service, visited the refuge on October 8 and 9.
The inspection included speaking to four people using the service, five members of staff and management and two board members and Interim service development lead.
They also observed practice and daily life.
The report’s key messages stated: “Most women felt safe within the service.
“They felt listened to and respected by staff.
“We observed warm, positive and supportive interactions between staff and those supported by the service.”
But the inspectors also noted the women’s support plans lacked details about identified needs and how support would be delivered.
This was highlighted as an area for improvement.
The report stated: “Most women felt safe in the service, but highlighted there were times they did not feel safe during evenings and weekends, for example.
“We heard that staff being available at these times had enhanced their feeling of safety however changes to the availability of staff at these times impacted on individuals feelings of safety and security.”
The inspectors heard from some people who said they were happy with the care and support, they knew who and when someone would be supporting them.
But others were less informed and confident about the support available.
In judging leadership to be weak, the inspectors noted that during the inspection, there was no manager in place and that the service was being supported by an independent consultant, based remotely.
“Staff told us that since the appointment of a consultant, there had been an improvement in terms of leadership and direction,” the report stated.
“The team felt there was more consistency in practice and a shared understanding of their role in supporting women.”
They also heard staff had not had access to formal supervision for a significant period of time, which contributed to a lack of direction in terms of their role.
But they understood this role was going to be taken on by a recently-appointed team leader.
They said that by November 30, the provider must ensure a management structure was in place providing managerial oversight, supervision and accountability.
In evaluating how good the team was, the inspectors identified some strengths but said these were compromised by significant weaknesses.
“There have been a number of challenges which have impacted upon staffing within the service over the last 18 months,” they said.
“This includes changes in relation to the availability of a manager within the service and led to staff feeling unsupported, as well as lacking clarity and direction in relation to their role which impacted on how women experienced support.”
But they said at the time of inspection, staff felt supported in their role.
“Team morale had improved and staff felt the benefit of clear direction and improved understanding of their role,” they stated.
They set down a requirement that by November 30, the provider must follow safer recruitment principles to ensure that staff had the right knowledge, competence and skills to safely support service users.
