Grantown care service for children in crisis is praised

A Grantown-based care home service which looks after ‘young people in crisis’ has been praised for the positive relationships it promotes with them.

Cairngorm Outdoors Ltd has continued to go from strength to strength and its care provision has been rated as ‘good’ and ‘very good’ across the board by the Care Inspectorate.

The firm, based in The Square and run by Les Durance, was praised by inspectors following an unannounced visit on September 12.

The newly published report stated: “Young people had been resident with the service for different periods of time. All said they felt safe and comfortable in their house and felt that the staff cared for them.”

The company is registered to provide a care home service for up to seven youngsters aged 13 to 18.

Mr Durance said: “I am reasonably satisfied with the findings but we have to continue to look to improve things.

“There has been a continuity in staff and stability within the management team who are all caring and hard-working people.

“With their support and with guidance from the Care Inspectorate, I am confident that we will keep heading in the right direction.”

The service has its office in Grantown and properties in several locations in the strath. At the time of inspection four houses were occupied each by one youngster.

The service aims to provide safe comfortable accommodation for youngsters while assessing and meeting any specific needs.

The report stated: “Houses are staffed by a minimum of two staff at all times and house teams work closely together to develop supportive relationships with young people and give them a range of positive experiences.

“One young person was clearly relaxed and familiar with staff and had developed very positive relationships with the house staff team... he liked living there and felt it was a good place for him to be.

“He enjoyed the activities he was helped to access and liked the rural location. One young person wasn’t sure if they liked being ‘out in the country’ but was clear it was in their best interest at the time.”

The report added: “During the inspection visit we saw good evidence of positive relationships between staff and young people resident at the service for some time.”

The quality of the accommodation used by Cairngorm Outdoors was singled out for particular praise and deemed very good

The report stated: “The properties used by the service were comfortable, well maintained, detached houses in rural areas. The houses were laid out and furnished as a family home with a range of appropriate furnishing.

“There was a range of social space as well as private areas and most young people had sole access to bathing and toilet facilities through en-suite facilities or their own bathroom.

“The young people we spoke with said they felt safe in their house and that it was a comfortable place to live. They also said that their privacy was maintained and that staff did not enter their bedrooms unless invited.

“The houses had outdoor space which allowed a range of outdoor socialisation and relaxing when weather allowed as well as outdoor exercise when chosen.”

Staff development was also praised by the inspectors who reported: “Staff we spoke with said they had good access to training and were encouraged to develop skills whenever possible.

"They also consistently described positive support from managers in all aspects of their practice and development.

“Supervision was provided in both formal and informal formats which was felt to be beneficial.”

The inspectors did point out some youngsters needed direct access to learning resources and facilities on a day-to-day basis to continue their education.

The recommended that online links with schools and colleges should be established where feasible.

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