An Ayrshire care home for children has been given the thumbs-up by the Care Inspectorate.
Thistlebank Care Home Service, in Cumnock, was rated ‘very good’ and ‘good’ across several quality indicators.
Thistlebank provides cares for up to two children and young people. The service is provided by Peebles Care.
An extract from the Care Inspectorate report said: “We met with both young people who told us they liked living in Thistlebank and considered it their home.
“Young people were observed to be relaxed and happy in the company of staff members. They liked and trusted the staff.
“Staff members had a very good knowledge of the young people’s preferences, needs and interests."
The report also stated that day-to-day routines were structured around the needs of young people in a “safe and caring environment” provided by a “committed staff team.”
The Care Inspectorate also highlighted “impressive planning” which enabled a young person to reunite with family and celebrate together during the festive season.
Grief and loss had been managed with “great sensitivity and skill” too.
The report goes on: “A young person had been helped to understand death and celebrate the life of a close family member who had passed away. This had been a significant step towards healing for this young person.”
The scrutiny body did ask that the dietary intake and mealtime experience of one young person be “reviewed,” and was told this would be “taken forward.”
They also suggested that care plans are created to support young people in developing the skills needed to “manage their own medication” over time.
One criticism came in the form of placement plans, as the report states: “There was a lack of robustness around the planning for one child when moving into Thistlebank.
“On reviewing case records, we found the placement plan was incomplete and lacked detail of how mental health and contact arrangements would be continued.
“There was a significant delay in accessing mental health services and a needed review of medication for a mental health issue.
“The contact with family did not continue as before and has now exceeded two years since direct contact took place.
“We appreciate the efforts being made to re-instate this contact and of the impact, albeit some months following admission, of travel restrictions due to the global pandemic.
“We also acknowledge current very good mental health support. However, better planning at the time of admission could have averted this detriment. This was accepted at the inspection feedback.”
Peebles Care have now introduced a new admissions guidance and procedure to ensure more “robust practices” take place pre-placement and during admissions stages.
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