The Care Inspectorate, responsible for inspecting care services throughout Scotland, visited the two care homes in Gorebridge and Woodburn in November 2022.

Inspectors rated the homes overall as ‘very good’ and also gave a ‘very good’ rating for how well the children and young people are safe, feel loved and get the most out of life.

The capacity and resources of leaders and staff to meet and champion children and young people’s needs and rights were also rated as ‘very good’.

Two people who agree with the findings are Riley Mackay and Ewan Adams, who are both 16 and pictured above. Riley, who is at Edinburgh College studying for a National 5 in engineering but hopes to work in computers, has been living in the Gorebridge home for four months. The Gorebridge care unit has been Ewan’s home for just short of a year.

Riley says it can be nerve-wracking moving into a house with none of your family around. He’d never lived in a care home before and didn’t know what to expect. “But it’s been brilliant,” he says.

Ewan, who is also at Edinburgh College and studying a pre-apprenticeship course after achieving multiple qualifications within the space of two months at Newbattle High School, says he feels “really settled”.

Both the boys have also been helping make a new arrival at the Gorebridge home feel welcome. “We made him my pasta dish and I’d been talking to him on Tik Tok for about a week before he came telling him what it’s like,” says Riley.

The inspectors found:

• Young People were experiencing positive outcomes (such as doing well at school).
• The service focuses on building strong relationships and recognising the needs of the young people.
• Staff approached care in a trauma-informed way meaning they have a clear understanding of the trauma the young people may have experienced and how to support them.
• Both houses provided homely and welcoming environments.
• Management have a clear vision for how the service can continually improve.

Midlothian Council’s Cabinet Member with responsibility for children and young people, Councillor Ellen Scott, said: “I am delighted that the findings of the Care Inspectorate reflect our promise that Midlothian children and young people will grow up safe, feel loved, get the most out of life and that their rights and wellbeing are being supported.”