Cradlehall Care Home in Inverness may have to close as Care Inspectorate raises concerns
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Efforts are under way to find new care arrangements for residents at an Inverness care home after inspectors raised serious concerns.
They relate to the quality of care at Cradlehall Care Home, a purpose-built 50-bed home offering residential, nursing and residential dementia care and care for young people with disabilities.
The Care Inspectorate, the Scottish Government’s regulatory body for the care industry, has submitted an application to Inverness Sheriff Court seeking cancellation of the care home’s registration.
Its operator, St Philips Care, has also acknowledged it may have to close the home "in order to achieve a better result in the longer term".
The Wolverhampton-headquartered company, which has homes around the UK, acquired Cradlehall after it was put up for sale last year by the previous operator HC-One.
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In a statement, St Philips Care said it recently stepped in to acquire troubled Cradlehall from the previous operator, HC-One, after it had failed to find a buyer for the care home.
But since taking on Cradlehall, the complex needs of the residents, combined with the existing condition of the home, have been difficult to manage, especially as St Philips Care’s expertise lay predominantly in the residential care sector.
Its chief operating officer Tracy Atkins said the company has been working closely with NHS Highlands.
"We always hold the happiness and wellbeing of our residents at the heart of all that we do," she said.
"It was always our intention to partially close the home so that we could refurbish it.
"It may be that we need to close down the whole home, in order to achieve a better result in the longer term.
"We are working closely with NHS Highlands, to find the best solution for the residents in our care."
NHS Highland said over recent weeks, there had been a coordinated daily Highland Health and Social Care Partnership presence in the care home and assessments of the health and wellbeing of all residents were being progressed.
"We are aware that the Care Inspectorate has submitted an application to the Sheriff Court seeking cancellation of Cradlehall Care Home’s registration," it said in statement.
"Our immediate priority is to ensure the safety and wellbeing of residents.
"We are working closely with our multi-agency partners and relevant stakeholders to support the residents of Cradlehall Care Home in order to minimise risk to residents, as we consider available options to best ensure resident safety and welfare."
A spokesperson for the Care Inspectorate acknowledged it was a difficult and distressing time for residents, their loved ones and staff at the home
But the inspectorate's first priority was always the health and wellbeing of residents.
"Because of our concerns about the safety and wellbeing of residents we have submitted an application to the sheriff court seeking cancellation of the care home’s registration," the spokesperson said.
"This could allow new care arrangements to be put in place for residents of the home.
"We are working closely with our partners including NHS Highland to ensure that residents experience appropriate care that meets their needs during this difficult time."
St Philips Care recently stepped in to acquire troubled Cradlehall from HC1, after they had failed to
find a buyer for the care home.
However, since St Philips Care has taken on Cradlehall, the complex
needs of the residents, combined with the existing condition of the home, have been difficult to
manage, especially since St Philips Care’s expertise lies predominantly in the residential care sector.
St Philips Care have been working closely with NHS Highlands.
Tracy Atkins, Chief Operating Officer, at St Philips Care said, “We always hold the happiness and wellbeing of our residents at the heart of all that we do.
It was always our intention to partially close the home so that we could refurbish it. It
may be that we need to close down the whole home, in order to achieve a better result in the longer
term.
We are working closely with NHS Highlands, to find the best solution for the residents in our
care.”
NHS Highland:
We are concerned about the significant issues that have been raised regarding the quality of care experienced by the residents at Cradlehall Care Home.
Over recent weeks, there has been coordinated daily Highland Health and Social Care Partnership presence in the care home and assessments of the health and wellbeing of all residents are being progressed.
We are aware that the Care Inspectorate has submitted an application to the Sheriff Court seeking cancellation of Cradlehall Care Home’s registration.
Our immediate priority is to ensure the safety and wellbeing of residents.
We are working closely with our multi-agency partners and relevant stakeholders to support the residents of Cradlehall Care Home in order to minimise risk to residents, as we consider available options to best ensure resident safety and welfare.
