Chief of care at home service in Ayrshire welcomes inspection findings
Crossroads (South Ayrshire) Care Attendant Scheme was said to have “significant strengths” in the way it delivered care to its service users.
The chief of an Ayrshire care at home operation has spoken of his pride after the service was handed a positive report from the Care Inspectorate.
Crossroads (South Ayrshire) Care Attendant Scheme was said to have “significant strengths” in the way it delivered care to its service users.
The service, which operates from a base in Prestwick’s Biggart Hospital. was also graded ‘very good’ across three quality indicators, the second highest grading possible.
Brian Kelsey, chairperson of Crossroads (South Ayrshire), said he was delighted with the high praise.
He said: “Following an unannounced inspection by the Care Inspectorate, we were delighted to receive both high praise and complements for the continued superior levels for our service.
“Scoring 5 out of 6 under each category assessed on (6 is rarely achieved), Crossroads was recognised for its continuing quality of service and superior ability to meet the needs of carers in South Ayrshire.
“Like all organisations in this sector, Crossroads is rightly subject to significant and regular scrutiny by the authorities to ensure we continue to meet the high standards required to operate and successfully meet the needs of carers and their loved ones.”
Mr Kelsey revealed that in 2022 they supported 175 carers by allowing them to have a break from the stress and pressure of caring for a loved one 24/7.
Mr Kelsey said: “There is a lot of help provided for the cared for person, but the carer, the one at home looking after their loved one or partner, is often forgotten about.
“They too, however, can begin to suffer their own problems, social isolation and loss of social networks, financial hardship if they’ve had to give up work and physical and emotional ailments linked to the pressure and sheer effort of looking after a loved one 24/7.
“Crossroads is a relatively unique organisation, a registered charity, which seeks to alleviate some of these issues by offering a respite service to the carer.
“We provide a trained and experienced Care Attendant to look after your loved one and allowing the carer to take time out, visit family or friends, do the shopping, go to the cinema or, simply, as we have experienced, have a proper rest or sleep.
“We know too that the need for our service is going to continue to grow.
“With an aging population and a growing need for communities to contribute more to looking after their loved ones, this is inevitable.
“We will continue to focus on doing what we can to support Carers in South Ayrshire.”
To find out more go to www.crossroads-sa.org.uk
