Moray Council’s Care at Home service has earned glowing praise from the Care Inspectorate for the quality of its work supporting people’s wellbeing and for its motivated and professional staff team.
The service has been evaluated as “very good” in its latest inspection report. It was graded 5 (out of a possible 6) for how well it supports people’s wellbeing and also for how good the staff team is, maintaining the same high standards achieved in its last inspection.
The most recent unannounced inspection, carried out between 26 November and 5 December 2025, involved feedback from people using the service, their families, and staff, alongside observations of practice and reviews of care records. At the time of the inspection, the service was supporting around 302 people across Moray to live independently in their own homes.
Inspectors highlighted that people were “very positive” about the support they received, with many saying they felt safe, respected and well supported, underlining their confidence in the quality of care provided. Staff were described as well trained and well led, with many saying they enjoyed their roles and felt valued, describing the team as “like a big family”.
The report praised the warm, respectful relationships between staff and the people they support, noting that social care assistants took time to have meaningful conversations and encouraged independence with daily living activities, promoting dignity and confidence. Personal plans were described as detailed and person-centred, helping staff provide care that reflected people’s wishes, needs and life experiences.
Inspectors also noted the service responded well to changes in people’s needs, helping safeguard their health and wellbeing during periods of change.
The staff team was further commended, with inspectors highlighting a motivated workforce who felt valued and worked well together. They saw strong teamwork, person-centred care delivery and positive relationships between colleagues and supervisors.
Recruitment practices met safer recruitment standards, training completion was described as excellent, and governance arrangements were in place to support good practice and ongoing development.
The inspection did, however, identify some areas for improvement. Inspectors noted that recording for “as required” medication could be strengthened, some paper records needed updating, and continuity of care could be improved in a small number of areas. The service has already begun to strengthen consistency and record-keeping, and progress will be kept under review.
The service is managed by Health & Social Care Moray (HSCM), the integrated partnership between Moray Council and NHS Grampian.
John Campbell, Provider Services Manager, said: “We’re delighted that the Care Inspectorate has recognised the dedication and professionalism of our Care at Home teams. Supporting people to live safely and independently in their own homes is at the heart of what we do, and this report reflects our staff’s compassion and commitment to the people we support and their families.
“Our teams are caring for people with increasingly complex health needs at a time when demand is high, which brings real daily pressures. Despite this, they continue to provide compassionate, high-quality support. We’re committed to building on our strengths and taking action to improve our service for the people and families who rely on us.”
Judith Proctor, Chief Officer of HSCM, said: “This is a fantastic report and a real credit to all colleagues within the Care at Home service. It’s clear that people in Moray are benefitting from meaningful, high-quality support which makes a positive difference to their lives. My thanks go to all the teams for their continued excellent work.”
The full inspection report is available on the Care Inspectorate website.
