Care home improvements meet watchdog’s demands

A threat to close a Tweedbank care home has been withdrawn after inspectors found ‘significant improvements’ had been made to the service.

Craw Wood, run by Eildon Housing Association, had been issued with an improvement notice by the Care Inspectorate last October.

But, after inspections in February, a letter to Eildon said: “As there has been a significant improvement in the service, the Care lnspectorate has decided not to proceed to make a proposal to cancel registration of the service.”

The latest inspection report, published last week, said improvements had been made in a variety of areas. As a result, inspectors graded it ‘adequate’ in three areas and ‘good’ in a fourth.

They said a ‘wide ranging improvement plan’ had been implemented, and there was better training, staff supervision and support, and personal planning and assurance.

The report said: “We recognise these improvements have been as a result of the clear direction and leadership provided by the current manager.”

They also found improvements in ‘all aspects of care’ and reported that better medication practice and risk assessments had resulted in a ‘safer care environment’.

Nile Istephan, chief executive of Eildon, said: “I am pleased that, following lots of hard work and commitment from Eildon staff, the recent Care Inspectorate report has shown a significant improvement in the grades the service has received. We will continue to work hard to ensure that grades continue to improve and return to the high levels that they were previously assessed at.

“I am very grateful for the co-operation we have received from relatives of our residents over this period.”