News / Improvements planned at Yell care home after critical inspection report
AN IMPROVEMENT plan is now in place at a Yell care home after a critical inspection report following a surprise visit earlier this year.
Isleshaven in Mid Yell was rated as “adequate” in four categories by Care Inspectorate Scotland during a February inspection, and as “weak” for its leadership.
However inspectors said the manager was responsible for another island care home too, and their remit was “expansive” – which had limited their ability to make any significant and lasting change at Isleshavn.
Three recommendations for improvements at the care home made in October 2022 had still not been made when inspectors returned at the start of 2025.
Many areas of the home were said to be “cluttered”, which they said “lacked dignity and respect” for the residents.
“It was simply not good enough that a person’s home is used as a ‘dumping ground’ for items that seem to have no place to go,” inspectors said.
“A comfy sofa and chair were being used to hold boxes of ‘stuff’. Boxes took up other parts of the room.”
Some aspects of the home’s décor were “tired”, with some rooms “sparse” for people moving in.
Inspectors said this had the potential of people “feeling unwelcome and lacking in comfort”.
Shetland Islands Council said it noted the contents of the report for Isleshavn.
“Since the inspectors’ visit, an improvement plan is now in place, and our staff are working hard to ensure that we meet the improvement requirements and areas that have been identified,” the council said.
“We have improved storage in some parts of the building, as highlighted, and we will take steps to focus on and address other issues that have led to ‘weak’ inspection ratings.”
Inspectors found there were issues with staff recruitment at Isleshavn, Care Inspectorate Scotland said, which had led to a “significant gap in terms of domestic support”.
Contingency plans were not organised until inspectors raised the possible risks, with the report adding: “That was not good enough, our presence should not be the reason for people getting the service they need.”
They said there was no doubt that staff were individually committed to supporting people “as best they could”.
But inspectors found there was “mixed feedback from staff” when it came to team working at Isleshavn.
While some felt “well supported”, others felt that “difficult dynamics existed in the team” at times.
“Team meeting minutes reflected such concerns and attempts had been made to support team building,” Care Inspectorate Scotland said.
“However, they appeared to have stalled.
“Relatives had commented on staff relationships not being as good as they would have hoped.”
Inspectors did find, however, that residents at the Isleshavn care home had said they were “very happy with their care and support”.
“Overall, staff were kind and caring and worked hard to support people with their immediate care and support needs,” they said.
“We saw some compassionate and sensitive support in place with staff also offering an element of fun and humour into people’s day.”
One person said that their relative looked “so much better than when they first came here”, adding they were “well looked after.”
And inspectors praised Isleshavn’s setting, saying it offered people “great views of the natural landscape” which had helped to promote “good emotional wellbeing”.
Meanwhile two care homes, a nursery and an out of school service have been praised by Care Inspectorate Scotland after surprise visits last month.
Overtonlea in Levenwick and Islesburgh’s out of school care service were both rated as “good” after unannounced inspections in April.
And Nordalea care home in Unst and Burra early years also came in for praise after the inspections.
Inspectors found Overtonlea to be “homely and welcoming”, with residents having “good relationships with the members of staff”.
And at Islesburgh’s out of school service, inspectors said that staff had formed “positive relationships” with the children who in turn “love the staff who know them well”.
Care Inspectorate Scotland rated Overtonlea’s setting, staff team and support of its resident’s wellbeing as “good” in each category.
Islesburgh out of school also received “good” ratings in every evaluation, including setting, leadership, staff team and its care, play and learning.
The same service had received an “adequate” mark for its leadership in September 2024, but inspectors noted improvements on their repeat visit on 28 and 29 April.
Burra early learning years was rated “good” for its setting, staff team and care, play and learning, receiving a mark of “adequate” for its leadership, in a surprise visit on 30 April.
Children there received “warm and nurturing care from staff”, and were “settled, confident and relaxed”.
One parent said they felt “so at ease dropping my child off at playgroup because I know he’ll be well cared for”.
Nordalea in Unst was also rated “good” for its staff team and setting, and “adequate” for its leadership and support of people’s wellbeing when visited on 8 and 9 April.
People were treated with “compassion, dignity and respect”, with staff observed responding to residents “politely and respectfully”.
The centre was used as a “community base”, with residents looking forward to a once monthly visit from the nursery children.
And there was “positive morale” between staff, who all “worked well together”.
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