A HOUSING support service for people with dementia in Midlothian and East Lothian has been given top marks by the Care Inspectorate.

Inspectors gave Mid and East Lothian Services, a branch of the charity Alzheimer Scotland, top marks of ‘excellent’ across the board following an unannounced inspection.

 It is the second inspection in a row which ranked the service as ‘excellent.’

The service provides housing support and care at home services to people with dementia.

 A report on the inspection noted: “The service provides a high quality of support to service users and their carers. The staff team are skilled and trained in dementia. 

“This training helps them to identify changes in service users' care and support needs and to support people effectively in their daily lives. The service is very well managed. 

 The management team are accessible to service users, their relatives and staff for advice on any issues. 

“The organisation promotes best practice in dementia and supports other agencies and the general public through providing guidance and advice to them.”

A spokesman for the Care Inspectorate said: “Everyone in Scotland has the right to good quality, compassionate care which meets their needs and respects their rights."

“The vast majority of care services in Scotland perform well, and where we encounter excellent services, it is vital we share good practice so that all care services in Scotland continue to improve and reach the high standards we expect. "

“There is no room for complacency, and we will continue to work with this service to ensure high standards are maintained."

“Anyone with a concern about a service can contact our helpline on 0345 600 9527, anonymously if needed, and all information given to us helps us plan our inspections."

Notes to Editors

The full inspection report is available here: http://www.scswis.com/berengCareservices/html/reports/getPdfBlob.php?id=268552