Much-improved inspection report for Scalloway care home
A SCALLOWAY care home has received a much-improved inspection report following a repeat visit by inspectors last month.
The Walter and Joan Gray care centre received one very good, three good and one adequate rating after Care Inspectorate visited the home in an unannounced visit in early August 2025.
That came after the centre was rated as “weak” in three key areas in an unannounced visit in November 2024.
Fire doors not working, a lack of access to drinking water and a serious staffing shortfall were among the issues found at the Walter and Joan Gray care centre late last year.
However the home has now made major improvements, which were commended by Care Inspectorate Scotland during their visit.
The inspectors said that service users were supported “in ways that were meaningful to them” and had appropriate support to manage their health and wellbeing needs.
The home was also described as being “clean, comfortable and well maintained”.
Inspectors did, however, say that staff’s knowledge of nutrition, swallowing and choking risks was “not sufficient” to ensure people had the right meals for them.
The Scalloway care home, which is run by Crossreach on behalf of the Church of Scotland, was rated as “adequate” for supporting people’s wellbeing.
Its staff team, leadership and setting were rated “good”, while its care and support planning was rated as “very good”.
Staff interactions at the home with people were “genuine, kind and compassionate”, and environment was “calm and well organised”, inspectors found.
“Staff were clear about their roles and knew people well, which meant people’s care was based on their needs and preferences,” they said.
When any concerns were shared about the service, these were followed up by the manager and appropriate action taken, the report added.
“Family members told us they felt welcome in the service, were invited to provide feedback, and participated in meetings and care reviews.
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“This assured us that the service used feedback from people to drive improvement.”
And improvements had been made to the setting itself too, including new flooring on the ground floor.
“Improvements to the upper floor were planned and people and their families had been involved in planning these improvements and choosing new furnishingsand décor,” the Care Inspectorate said.
“We had very positive feedback from some families about how inclusive this planning had been.”
However the inspectors felt staff “did not always understand the needs” of service users with nutritional requirements, such as modified food textures.
They said kitchen staff and staff responsible for serving meals had “limited understanding” of those with difficulty swallowing and what foods were appropriate for these people.
“We observed people who required a softer textured diet being offered snacks which were not appropriate and posed a choking risk.
“This meant that people were at risk due to being given foods that did not meet their assessed needs.”
A spokesperson for Crossreach said they were pleased to see an improvement to the grades at Walter and Joan Gray care home.
“Having worked hard to correct the shortfalls that were highlighted in a previous Care Inspectorate report we are confident that the plans that are in place for the home will continue to support and enable the staff in their delivery of high-quality care to all our residents,” they added.
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