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Wellside Court sheltered housing owner Ark receives top grades and praise from Care Inspectorate


By Garry McCartney

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Wellside Court off Councillors Walk has helped care provider Ark achieve record scores from the Care Inspectorate.
Wellside Court off Councillors Walk has helped care provider Ark achieve record scores from the Care Inspectorate.

LOCAL sheltered housing played an important part in its administrator achieving their highest ever average grades from Scotland’s care regulator.

Wellside Court care services provider, Ark, has revealed Care Inspectorate scores from Ark’s 15 registered services in 12 regions are at record high levels, showing an average grade of 4.81 across all six inspection themes up to March 2020, up from 4.76 from the previous year and from 4.05 in 2017.

The results were revealed at Ark’s AGM with the workforce being given praise for “unstinting devotion” during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ark’s director of operations, Mark Hall, said the grades were a marker as a high quality provider of housing and care.

He added: “Since 2016/17, we have put in place a rigorous improvement process to ensure we deliver the best service we can. Our aim now is to achieve an average grade of five.”

In its most recent inspection in May 2019, Wellside Court was classed at a 5 rating (very good) with no requirements or recommendations. Ark has run Wellside Court’s mix of housing options since 1993, providing care and housing for adults with complex needs and their families. Each tenant is provided with support ranging up to 24 hours-a-day. Ark also supports people in Kinloss and Findhorn. Local employees include operations manager Aimee McIntosh, care and support manager Michelle Mcphail and 27 other members of staff.

Care Inspectorate grades, from one (unsatisfactory) to six (excellent), use key quality indicators such as quality of staff and leadership, care planning and the level of support for people’s well-being,

Mr Hall added: “Our customers are getting some of the best care services to be found in Scotland. Our success requires a combination of strong, value based leadership, a sound understanding of outcome focused support and support workers who are fully focused on providing enhanced levels of care that are tailored specifically for each individual.”

The 43rd AGM also heard that Ark’s housing businesses continue to meet Scottish housing quality standards and the energy efficiency standard in social housing, while also keeping rents affordable at social rent level.

Ark board chairman Graham Mitchell paid tribute to all of the firm’s staff: “Ark’s diligence and professionalism has kept our supported people safe. Ark has had no reported cases of Covid-19 of supported people since the crisis began. Our care and support teams should be very proud of what they have achieved through such a unique and challenging time.”



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