Top marks for housing support service

A LOCAL service that supports people to manage and maintain a home has received high praise from inspectors.

Shetland Islands Council’s Housing Support Service was deemed by the Care Inspectorate to be ‘very good’ in quality of care and support, as well as staffing.

Inspectors carried out a short notice inspection of the service in September.

The service, based in Lerwick, is available to those who find it difficult to maintain their accommodation, are homeless or potentially homeless, and those in sheltered housing.

People “expressed a high level of satisfaction with the service” in questionnaires given out by the Care Inspectorate.

Inspectors also spoke to seven people directly, with positive feedback received.

The Care Inspectorate said the service had “major strengths in supporting positive outcomes for people”.

Housing manager Anita Jamieson told a meeting of Shetland Islands Council’s development committee on Wednesday that the report was “testament to the staff” – many of whom go unsung.

Councillors on the committee gave their congratulations to the staff, with Lerwick member Stephen Leask saying the team should be “very proud” of the report.