The Care Inspectorate reported that the staff teams are kind, respectful, and compassionate when caring for the people they support and are considered to have an open and positive culture, listening and acting on concerns raised with staff and management teams. The varied social activities programme on offer in both developments was also praised, which allows choice and the opportunity to learn new skills.

The Care Inspectorate assessed the service as Grade 5 – Very Good – which Eildon said is especially pleasing as both services are relatively new. Eildon only became the care and support provider in Dovecot Court in September 2021 following a service transfer from Scottish Borders Council, with many of the current staff previously employed by the council.

Wilkie Gardens was a new build development which opened in January 2022. It’s been a team effort by all staff to be able to offer extra care services which are recognised as providing positive outcomes.

Amanda Miller, Eildon’s director of community services, said: “We are delighted that the high quality of our extra care services has been recognised by the Care Inspectorate, in particular the positive impact we make to the lives of the people we support, as well as noting the quality of our staff and management teams. In recent months each of our care services have been inspected and all have been graded 5 ‘very good’.

“This reflects our dedication and commitment on delivering quality services which focus on the needs of the people we support as well as investing in our staff teams to ensure they have the skills, approach and knowledge needed.

“It was especially heartening that there was evidence of the extensive activity programme we offer which provides opportunities for the people we support to have active and engaged lives, and to learn new skills, with many activities organised by tenants themselves or in partnership with other organisations.

“This could not have been achieved without the inspiring leadership of Agnes Bell our care services manager, and the valued input of every single member of the team – a totally inclusive effort and I want to express my thanks to everyone involved.”