News / Managers defend weak report into Viewforth
COMMUNITY care managers in Shetland have moved to reassure local people that standards are being improved at a Lerwick residential home for adults with dementia and mental health problems.
It emerged this week that Viewforth House had been graded “weak” by the Care Inspectorate during an unannounced inspection in December last year.
A follow up inspection six months later in May showed that only one of five action points demanded by the inspectors had been met.
As a result the care home was still graded ‘weak’, the second lowest score after ‘unsatisfactory’, on all four categories of quality of care and support, quality of environment, quality of staffing, and leadership and management.
After their second visit inspectors made several observations and recommendations, mostly concerning inadequate record keeping.
Since the May visit an interim manager for the home has been appointed and an action plan put in place, which is being monitored on a weekly basis.
Shetland’s interim director of community care Simon Bokor Ingram said that improvements had been made between the two inspections, however they had not been able to demonstrate that properly when inspectors returned in May.
“Improvements had started to be made, they had not been made fast enough between December and May this year and we have accelerated that and we are monitoring progress very closely,” he told BBC Radio Shetland.
He added that management at Viewforth was “in robust shape”, and that staff worked “very hard and provide really good care”.
“What we need to do is make sure that the standards that have been set by the Care Inspectorate are met and that we can evidence that.”
Shetland Islands Council social services committee chairman Cecil Smith said that while he was disappointed in the report, he was convinced there was a robust plan now in place that was being well monitored.
He stressed the report did not suggest residents’ care was affected by the weaknesses highlighted by the inspectors, and pointed out that the general standard of inspection reports of Shetland care homes was very high.
A report on the future of Viewforth is to be presented in April, with one suggestion being that it close and residents be placed in other establishments.
Become a supporter of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider start paying for their dose of the latest local news delivered straight to their PC, tablet or mobile phone.
Journalism comes at a price and because that price is not being paid in today’s rapidly changing media world, most publishers - national and local - struggle financially despite very healthy audience figures.
Most online publishers have started charging for access to their websites, others have chosen a different route. Shetland News currently has over 600 supporters who are all making small voluntary financial contributions. All funds go towards covering our cost and improving the service further.
Your contribution will ensure Shetland News can: -
- Bring you the headlines as they happen;
- Stay editorially independent;
- Give a voice to the community;
- Grow site traffic further;
- Research and publish more in-depth news, including more Shetland Lives features.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a supporter of Shetland News by either making a single payment or monthly subscription.
Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.
Already a supporter? Sign in to hide this message.
