A SCOTTISH Borders Council-run home care service based in Galashiels has carried out a series of improvements after a critical report highlighted deficiencies.

The Homecare West Support Service had been rated ‘weak’ for supporting people’s well-being and received the same rating for the planning of care and support.

The service, based from council offices in Paton Street, supports adults, including older people, living in their own homes and in the community.

It operates across the west of the Borders, including Galashiels, St Boswells, Lauder, Selkirk and Peebles.

Two representatives of the Care Inspectorate paid an unannounced visit to the service on July 5 last year, visiting its offices in Galashiels and Peebles, speaking to supported people, staff and management.

The report found that people experiencing care “could not be confident their care and support needs would be met by staff they knew” and that people “did not know who would be visiting them prior to the visit”.

The service received ‘adequate’ ratings for its leadership and staff team.

The Care Inspectorate required the provider to carry out the necessary improvements by November 30.

In response the management team developed a “robust action plan” to address the improvement areas identified in the inspection report.

And after a follow-up visit on December 6 last year the service has been newly rated as ‘good’ for supporting people’s well-being, leadership, the staff team and how care and support is planned.

The new report says: “People could be more confident familiar support staff would visit at a time that was scheduled and suitable for them.

“Support plans were up to date, accurate and reflected people’s individuals needs, intended outcomes an associated risks.

“There had been a focus on staff training which meant could be more confident staff were competent and skilled to undertake their designated roles.

“Management evidenced a commitment to sustain and embed improvements made and to continually seek further improvements.”