Kindness, compassion and personalised support from staff have been highlighted in a positive Care Inspectorate report on Moray Health & Social Care Partnership’s (MHSCP) Care at Home service.
The service, provided through Moray Council, supports around 290 people across Moray, helping them to maintain their independence and continue living in their own homes.
An unannounced inspection, carried out between 25 August and 1 September, awarded the service two grades of five – ‘Very Good’ – for how well it supports people’s wellbeing and for the leadership of the service.
Inspectors found that people received respectful, reliable and personalised care which reflected their individual needs and preferences. People described staff as “kind and compassionate” and said that the support they received made a difference to their health and wellbeing.
Staff were also recognised for identifying changes in people’s health and wellbeing and seeking additional advice and support when needed. Inspectors noted that managers responded quickly to concerns, helping ensure people received appropriate support at the right time.
The inspection report highlighted how important familiar faces are to people receiving care. People valued being supported by Social Care Assistants they know, and said short-notice changes to staffing arrangements could cause anxiety. Management recognised that consistency and continuity of care needed to be strengthened and remained focused on addressing this.
The report acknowledged that budget pressures had affected service delivery and identified opportunities to strengthen medication records and practice, as well as care planning documentation, with improvement work is already underway.
Some people raised concerns about a change to medication collection arrangements, saying they had not been sufficiently involved before it was introduced. Inspectors highlighted the importance of better communication and engagement to ensure people’s views and experiences are considered in decisions about how the service operates.
The report also praised the service’s strong approach to quality assurance, with regular audits, staff training and competency checks helping to maintain standards and identify opportunities for improvement.
John Campbell, MHSCP Service Manager, Social Care Services, said: “Our staff play an important role in people’s everyday lives, building relationships and getting to know what matters to them. We’re pleased that inspectors recognised the kindness, compassion and personalised support they provide.
“We also recognise how important it is for people to be supported by staff who know them. We remain focused on improving consistency for the people we support, alongside the improvements identified around medication practice and record keeping.”
Judith Proctor, MHSCP Chief Officer, said: “Helping people to live independently, with the right support around them, is an important part of our commitment to delivering care closer to home.
“It’s encouraging to see the strengths of the service, the dedication of our staff and the positive impact their work has on people’s lives recognised by the Care Inspectorate. We also recognise the importance of listening to people and continuing to improve the support they receive.”
Dennis Robertson, Chair of Moray Integration Joint Board which directs the work of MHSCP, said: “I’d like to congratulate all the staff involved in the Care at Home service. These ‘Very Good’ evaluations reflect their hard work, commitment and dedication to supporting people across Moray.”
The full inspection report is available from the Care Inspectorate website.
Moray Health & Social Care Partnership Communications
