Blacklisted Dundee care home improves

A surprise inspection has found that a controversial Dundee care home given a damning report last year has already made dramatic improvements to the standard of care it offers.

The Care Commission, which is based at Compass House in Dundee, issued a highly-critical report of Moyness Care Home in Broughty Ferry’s Grove Road following an announced inspection.

The home, which can look after 33 residents, was given the lowest mark possible in the report published last October, just a month after it emerged the home had been blacklisted by Dundee City Council’s social work department because of concerns over the treatment of residents.

The home, owned by Forfar’s Balhousie Care Group, had also been reprimanded for the “unacceptable” treatment of the late John Ferguson, who died at the home in June last year, at he age of 86.

It was found Mr Ferguson has been left in a “dishevelled” state and that staff had failed to properly monitor his physical wellbeing.

However, a surprise inspection carried out in November found that the home was now providing “adequate” care for residents.

It was also given an “adequate rating” for the quality of staffing, environment and management.

Although this is a significant improvement on the earlier report, adequate is the third lowest of the six possible grades available.

The surprise inspection was triggered by a complaint about inadequate facilities in the care home and the general health and care of residents.

Although Moyness Care Home was given an overall adequate rating, the report also calls for several improvements to the standard of care.

These include keeping relatives better informed about the wellbeing of residents and ensuring care-plans are up-to-date.

A spokesman for Balhousie Care Group said, “We are pleased that the Care Commission has awarded higher grades across the board at Balhousie Moyness Care Home following its most recent inspection.

“We continue to work closely with the Care Commission to address their recommendations and remaining points for action as we move forward, and look forward to continuing to build on these improved grades.”

However, a spokesman for Dundee City Council said it is still too early to say if the home will be taken off the social work department’s blacklist.

He said, “No decision has yet been taken on placements at the home pending publication of the final report from the Care Commission.”