Inspectors impressed by turnaround at Alan McLure House

A Fife care home once described as having ”serious issues” by the Care Commission has been praised in a recent inspection report.

Alan McLure House in Balbirnie Road, Glenrothes, has been given grades of ”very good” for quality of care and support, environment, staffing and management.

In stark contrast, just last year the Fife Council-run home was under investigation after the Care Commission published a damning report in which quality of care and management were graded as ”weak”.

The Care Commission — which has since been replaced by Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (SCSWIS) — said the home would have to address its shortcomings ”as a matter or urgency” after inspectors visited in late 2010.

By February of last year the home’s grades had improved and were ranked as ”adequate”. However, the latest report, following an unannounced inspection on June 21, indicated that Alan McLure House has finally turned the corner.

As well as tightening up on management of medication, personalised care plans and nutrition, the home has even purchased some hens to keep the residents entertained.

The SCSWIS report stated: ”We found the general ambiance throughout the home to be relaxed and friendly. The home was clean and well maintained. Alan McLure House has continued to build upon previous areas for improvement.

”Management and staff taking part in this inspection were enthusiastic and committed to the ongoing improvement of the service.

”A review of each person’s care is carried out every six months, at which the views of the service user and their relatives are sought and recorded. The service carries out a variety of audits to check on quality.”

”The service had improved medicines management by implementing regular checks. Frequent drug audits are undertaken by the manager to assess staff competency and ensure the safe administration of medication to service users.

”We saw that the service had acted on comments and suggestions made by service users and their relatives to improve the service. This included social activities, redecoration of some individual rooms and the main corridor and hallway, four laying hens had been purchased and a new ‘deluxe’ hen house and run had been built in the rear garden.

”A number of the residents enjoy visiting the hens daily and everyone is currently involved in choosing names for the hens.

”Healthy eating is encouraged and the service had appointed a member of staff as ‘nutrition champion’ to promote improved nutrition in the care home. The champion is a point of contact for the staff team and liaises with the dietitian to help inform staff and raise awareness regarding the importance of good nutrition and hydration for older people.

”The cook is aware of specific dietary needs of service users and care staff monitor service users’ nutritional status.

”We received three completed questionnaires from service users. We also spoke with 10 service users in the course of the inspection and observed staff practice.

”People told us they were comfortable in the home, felt safe and had no concerns regarding the quality of care and support provided to them in Alan McLure House.”

The Glenrothes home was among the 10 local authority homes earmarked for privatisation under a controversial proposal approved by the previous SNP-Lib Dem administration. At the time opposition councillors fiercely opposed this and the new Labour-led administration has pledged to keep council care homes in-house.

Administration leader Alex Rowley said: ”I welcome this positive report. Well done to everyone involved in the management and the day-to-day running of the home. They should be very proud.

”It is crucial that we set the highest standards in Fife and this demonstrates that the quality of provision in council homes is absolutely first class. We are committed to ensuring that there is mixed provision of care in Fife and it would be wrong to simply let the private sector take over.”