'Warm, caring and respectful' housing support for adults with complex needs in Ross-shire
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A housing support service for adults with mental health problems and/or learning disabilities living in their own homes has received a positive grading.
Keltic Care's housing support service was judged by the Care Inspectorate to be very good in terms of leadership and how well it supports people's wellbeing.
The Inverness based organisation operates primarily within the city, but provides a number of intensive support care at home services to people in Ross-shire.
It provides support to adults who have physical and/or sensory impairment, older people, adults with a learning disability, and adults with a mental health problem. It had around 140 people using the service when the recent unannounced inspection took place.
Inspectors said: "The service provided a person-centred, goal-orientated service to people. Leadership was strong and communication was effective.
"Staff were highly motivated and there was an experienced team. People spoke highly of the service.
"People experienced warm, caring and respectful support."
They added that staff showed kindness and people were treated with dignity.
"People's choices were respected and promoted, and individuals were sensitively supported with decision-making skills, to maximise their wellbeing," inspectors stated. "Many of the people we spoke with described the positive difference that their support made to their progress, and to being able to achieve their goals and aspirations.
"Some people told us about having continuous support from the same people over many years. This helped build trust, and good professional relationships. This allowed staff to develop a very good understanding of people's needs and preferences, which in turn informed how support was delivered. For some people the professional relationship with their key support staff was central to their health and wellbeing."
Inspectors described the service as demonstrating major strengths in leadership.
They added: "As well as informal supports, staff benefited from regular supervisions, and appraisals, and effective staff training processes. Individual staff appraisals were informed by feedback from people using the service, and by their peers.
"Staff recruitment and induction followed good practice guidance, and staff retention was seen to be excellent. All this contributed to a staff team who were invested and enthusiastic in their work, and who had the necessary skills and values for their role."
