Watchdog orders improvements at care home in BBC probe

Care at the home in Inverness was investigated by BBC Disclosure

A watchdog has raised "serious and significant" concerns about the care experienced by residents of a care home at the centre of a BBC investigation.

The Care Inspectorate has ordered improvements to be made at Castlehill Care Home in Inverness, or risk having its registration cancelled.

It has been told to ensure residents' health and wellbeing needs were being accurately assessed, documented and met - and that there was skilled and compassionate leadership at all levels of the organisation.

Families of residents accused Castlehill's owners of "cruelty" and "neglect" after a BBC Disclosure investigation revealed a series of care failures.

Castlehill Care Home said it was working closely with the Care Inspectorate and NHS Highland Health and Social Care Partnership, and said it was "fully committed" to maintaining improvements in care.

Castlehill Care Home is the biggest care home in Inverness with beds for 88 people

As part of its monitoring of Castlehill Care Home, the Care Inspectorate undertook a follow-up inspection in relation to an outstanding requirement.

It said when inspectors visited the service last month further concerns were identified.

The inspection was extended and an improvement notice was issued to address immediate concerns.

The watchdog said earlier inspections had identified areas for improvement, and the third improvement notice in 12 months has now been issued in relation to the service.

A spokesperson said: "An inspection has identified serious and significant concerns about the quality of care experienced by residents at Castlehill Care Home in Inverness.

"We understand this continues to be a difficult and distressing time for residents, their families and staff at the care home.

"However, our priority is always the health and wellbeing of people experiencing care."

The notice sets out "significant improvements" that must be made by the end of October.

In the notice, the Care Inspectorate said failure to demonstrate compliance with any one of the improvements within the required timescale could result in it proceeding to make a proposal to cancel the home's registration.

The spokesperson said: "We are in contact with the service to monitor progress and follow up on the required improvements."

Castlehill Care Home said it was taking action to make necessary improvements.

A spokesperson said: "We continue to work closely with the Care Inspectorate and NHS Highland Health and Social Care Partnership and we are fully committed to maintaining improvements in care.

"In recent, unannounced visits by the inspectorate, improvements have been noted.

"The areas highlighted in the notice of improvement were already identified in our internal review and steps have been taken to address these."

They added: "We are in regular contact with residents and relatives and thank them for their continued support and engagement.

"The wellbeing, health and safety of residents remains our absolute priority."

BBC reporter Catriona MacPhee worked undercover as a cleaner in Castlehill for seven weeks over the summer.

She said in that time she saw vulnerable older people left sitting alone for hours in urine-soaked clothes or lying in wet bedsheets, often calling out for help.

She also saw a female resident screaming in distress over male carers doing intimate personal care, due to chronic staff shortages.

Operated by Morar Living, Castlehill is the biggest care home in Inverness, with beds for 88 people.

Many residents pay for their care themselves while others are paid for by the state.

NHS Highland has paid almost £10m in fees to Castlehill since it opened in 2019.