A Dundee care home has achieved the highest Care Inspectorate rating of grade six – ‘Excellent’ after maintaining a track record of “exceptionally high-quality care” and “outstanding leadership”.
The Care Inspectorate made an unannounced visit to
Balcarres Care Home, located in Broughty Ferry, Dundee, which provides residential and residential dementia care to older people. The visit took place in December 2023, and the inspectors were full of praise for colleagues for the kind ways in which they provide care at the home.
The inspectors stated that colleagues treated residents with “compassion, dignity and respect”, and there were “strong” relationships in the home among residents and the staff. The home also created a real sense of belonging and community that helped people to feel included.
A strong sense of belonging was enhanced by personalised bedrooms, which easily identified each residents’ room with clear name plaques. The inspectors revealed that Balcarres Care Home staff helped create “homeliness and familiarity” by displaying personal belongings in people's bedrooms and around the home.
The “highly skilled” staff members were also applauded as care plans were well-written, which helps support residents as individuals and promotes independence. Staff also encouraged independence through meaningful activity, including in all aspects of daily living and managing their own laundry. The inspectors praised Balcarres Care Home’s person-led approach to how care was delivered, as residents were put at the heart of decisions.
The Care Inspectorate report stated:
“People living in Balcarres received excellent, flexible, responsive, and person-led care. Creative approaches were taken to ensuring positive experiences.
“Staff were not complacent in this approach and demonstrated a commitment to strive for progress with the people living in Balcarres firmly at the heart of all decision-making.”
Mealtimes were calm and organised. Visitors were also encouraged to join at mealtimes to enjoy the “varied” and “well-presented” food.
The inspectors saw improved outcomes for people's balance, mobility and less falls occurred due to the environment and atmosphere in the home.
Balcarres Care Home also has a track record of “outstanding leadership” as staff members were committed to achieving the best possible experiences for residents.
The report stated that Balcarres Home Manager, Lynn McLean, strove for excellence, which was evident in the consistent quality assurance records, and the regular evaluations of staff practice.
The team at Balcarres Care Home were delighted to receive the Care Inspectorate report that rated the home as ‘Excellent’ in supporting residents’ wellbeing and their leadership. This showed that the home offers high standards of care for residents, which shows that the home is safe, effective, caring, responsible, and well-led.
Maxine Smedley, Managing Director for HC-One Scotland, said:
“It is such an achievement for Balcarres to earn the highest Care Inspectorate rating. Balcarres’ ‘excellent’ rating across the board demonstrates the impressive job Lynn and her team have done.
"I am delighted that their amazing work - and the impact that this has on the kind care we provide to residents - has been recognised by the Care Inspectorate.”
Lynn McLean, Balcarres Care Home Manager, commented:
“I’ve been here for 44-years and our staff at Balcarres are a big family. We achieved the ‘Excellent’ six rating because we worked hard as a team.
“We’re very person-centred, and it’s about the residents and their day-to-day living. We provide a sense of homeliness and belonging which is so important – we’re like a big house.”