Care attendant scheme receives glowing report

SHETLAND Care Attendant Scheme (SCAS) has received a very good inspection report following an unannounced visit from the Care Inspectorate in September.

The Market House based charity provides regular breaks to people who care for their loved ones in their own homes.

Currently SCAS have 34 voluntary carers on its books looking after 48 clients from across the isles including the smaller islands.

The service was found to be very good in the two key areas of how well people’s wellbeing is supported and how good the team is at doing their job.

The Care Inspectorate said they found a “positive moral across the service and people described it as being a pleasure being able to help people remain at home for as long as possible.

“We received feedback from carers and people using the service and the positive difference it has made to their lives.

“One person told us ‘They saved my own sanity; they provide respite when I need it and has been of incalculable benefit to me and my loved one’.”

The only slight criticism inspectors voiced in their report was that SCAS should improve the recording of people’s outcomes and achievements. They also said that further work is needed to develop the use of self-evaluation.

Service manager Karen Fraser said the positive report from the Care Inspectorate was a reflection of the hard work and dedication of carers and the office team.

“Everyone works hard to provide the highest possible standards of care to all of our carers and service users – so I’m proud we received a ‘very good’ Care Inspectorate rating this year,” she said.

“We will continue to ensure our high-quality service is maintained.  “I would like to say a big thank you to all of our staff and board at SCAS for their dedication and commitment, which I know is also greatly appreciated by carers, service users and their families.

“They are the reason our service is both praised and appreciated by so many people across Shetland, and we are grateful for everything they do on a daily basis.”

The full report can be found here.