Shetland’s social care services win plaudits from Care Commission

The provision of social care in Shetland is generally “good”, according to a new report from the Care Commission.

Making the Grade? shows that the vast majority of 71 services – there are a total of 110 in the isles – that were graded were providing a good quality of care. Some 5.6 per cent were graded as being “very good” while only 1.4 per cent, equating to one service, was rated as “weak”.

The Care Commission research was carried out between April 2008 and March 2009 and graded care services under categories of care, support, environment, staffing, management and leadership.

Inspection director Ronnie Hill said the system “provides people in care and their families with better information – and therefore more choice and involvement – about the standards of care provided at every care service in its local authority”.

Mr Hill continued: “It is so important that people who use services and families understand that they can play a major role in insisting on and driving forward improvements in care standards.”