Inverness Care Centre Told To Tackle Crisis

AN Inverness’s council-run day centre has been ordered to bring in emergency measures following a damning report by Scottish Government watchdog the Care Commission.

The investigation at the centre, providing day care services for more than 100 adults with learning difficulties, followed a complaint over staff shortages and the cancellation of sessions.

Problems at the Corbett Centre, in Coronation Park, have arisen because the council has failed to replace staff who have left — there are currently six vacancies, including the post of resource manager.

The commission’s probe found the service was not only short of staff but the council was not meeting the health and welfare needs of those using it and the authority was operating services in breach of regulations.

In response, the authority is now seeking to recruit an additional four support workers and is reviewing all staffing arrangements.

Yesterday, as sessions for some users were cancelled at the last minute due to staff sickness, Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Peter Peacock questioned the council’s motives.

Two councillors also accused officials of keeping them in the dark over the complaint.

“From the outside you could be forgiven for forming the view that the department has started the process of deliberately running down the day care centres before the alternative strategy they are talking about is fully understood, costed, or in place,” Mr Peacock said.

This week he wrote to social work director Harriet Dempster and the council’s new political leader Councillor Michael Foxley about his concerns and to seek assurances that current services would be maintained in full.

He also wants the council to ditch planned cuts in the budget which would see £700,000 axed from spending on adults with learning disabilities.

His plea came as a special meeting of the Corbett Centre Carers Forum was convened to inform parents and carers about the commission’s investigation.

Low staffing levels has meant some sessions and outreach activities such as swimming and horse riding have been called-off.

Parents and carers attending called on Mrs Dempster, who went to the meeting, to reassure them the centre would not close.

It is understood users may still find their sessions cancelled if there are not enough staff available to care for them.

One parent, who asked not be named, described the centre as a lifeline for her and her daughter, who has severe learning difficulties.

“If it were to close we would be totally lost,” she said.

“It is very important for my daughter. It stimulates her and it is where she meets a lot of her friends.

“I think there has been a lot of concern from people that the service will wind down.”

Cindie Maclennan (42) and Mari Hill (48) are both tenants with Key Housing and use the Corbett Centre every week. They both cherish the facility because it enables them to meet up with friends and take part in different activities such as art classes, French lessons and swimming.

Ms Hill, who said there had been some concerns about the centre’s future, wants the council to employ more staff so day care sessions can continue.

Mrs Dempster did her best to allay mounting anxieties among the carers and said the commission was satisfied with the council’s emergency action plan.

“We are committed to delivering services to people with learning disabilities but these services may be delivered in a different way,” she said.

“There are no proposals to close the centre at this time.”

However, it is not clear what changes will take place but Mrs Dempster said they were seeking to modernise the service and promised to consult with parents and carers. She said it may be that the centre will play less of a role in service provision and it will operate more as a base for carers. “We do not envisage a sudden shift. We see it as moving forward,” she added.

Labour councillor Bet McAllister (Inverness Central) claimed members were being kept in the dark over the commission’s investigation. She was astonished to hear staff at the centre were not being replaced.

“The users are some of the most vulnerable people in society and are getting a raw deal,” she said.

SNP councillor John Finnie (Inverness Ness-side) also feels let down by council officers.

“I was very concerned I had been told things were rosy when they weren’t, but equally important I had not been told nor had the committee that the Care Commission had investigated the Corbett Centre and upheld a complaint.”