Inspection of Services for Children and Young People by the Care Inspectorate
Perth and Kinross Council · 1 June 2026
Back to Executive Sub-Committee of the Learning and Families Committee — 1 June 2026 and its agenda
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Our vision is a Perth and Kinross where everyone can live life well, free from poverty and inequalities ___________________________________________________________________ Committee or Board: Executive Sub-Committee of the Learning and Families Committee Date of Meeting: 1 June 2026 Report Title: Inspection of Services for Children and Young People by the Care Inspectorate Report Number: 26/152 Report Author(s): Dawn Millar, Operational Manager (FBSCommittee@pkc.gov.uk) Organisational Lead: Arun Singh, Strategic Lead – Children, Families and Justice ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Purpose 1.1 This report sets out the key findings following the unannounced inspection of Perth and Kinross Council’s Woodlea Cottage. This inspection was carried out in October 2025 and was published in November 2025 and evaluated how the service supports children and young people’s rights, wellbeing and safety. Details of which can be found in Appendix 1. 1.2 Sections 1. Purpose 2. Recommendation 3. Background/Context 4. Main Issues/Inspection Overview 5. Service Response to Area for Improvement Identified 6. Conclusion 7. Impact Value Assessment 8. Appendix 2. Recommendation 2.1 Considers and comments as appropriate on the contents of the report
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3. Background/Context 3.1 The Care Inspectorate (also known as Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland - SCSWIS) was created by the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010. The Act sets out general principles for the Care Inspectorate’s inspection and improvement functions. These are: • The safety and wellbeing of all persons who use, or are eligible to use, any social service are to be protected and enhanced; • The independence of those persons is to be promoted; • Diversity in the provision of social services is to be promoted with a view to those persons being afforded choice; and • Good practice in the provision of social services is to be identified, promulgated and promoted. 3.2 The Act places duties on the Care Inspectorate to make arrangements which will secure continuous improvement, to ensure user focus and to co-operate with other specified scrutiny bodies. 3.3 Since April 2008, regulated care services in Scotland have been inspected using a framework of quality themes and quality statements. Services have been given grades based on the findings at each inspection and the written reports and grades are made public via the Care Inspectorate’s website. 3.4 Services are measured against the National Care Standards and quality themes. These are: • Quality of Care and Support; • Quality of Environment or Information; • Quality of Staffing; and • Quality of Management and Leadership. 3.5 Each quality theme is graded on a 6-point scale in which 1 = unsatisfactory, 2 = weak, 3 = adequate, 4 = good, 5 = very good and 6 = excellent. 3.6 In addition to a visit to each service, inspectors consider evidence from a range of sources when judging a service’s performance since it was last graded, including: • Upheld complaints and whether identified issues have been resolved; • Notifiable incidents and how the service has dealt with them; • Feedback from people who use the service and carers; • Evidence that previous action plans have been implemented; and • Information in the annual return. 3.7 The Care Inspectorate conducts unannounced inspections for all regulated services as the main inspection method unless there are practical reasons that this is not appropriate. There are longer intervals between inspections for better performing services and a greater focus on risk-based inspections for poorly performing and high-risk services, such as those which provide 24-hour residential care.
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3.8 Following an inspection, the Care Inspectorate may set out a series of: • Areas for Improvement: statements that set out actions the care service provider should take to improve or develop the quality of the service. • Requirements: statements which set out what is required of the care service provider to comply with relevant legislation. 3.9 Care service providers must submit an action plan to the Care Inspectorate addressing any recommendations identified. Progress against the action plan is monitored by the Care Inspectorate through annual return and self-assessment forms submitted by the care service provider, and through subsequent inspection. 4. Main Issues/Inspection Overview 4.1 This report presents the findings of the 2025 inspection, which is the most recent inspection of Woodlea Cottage by the Care Inspectorate. The previous inspection took place in July 2023. 4.2 The 2023 inspection focused on two Quality Indicators, “How well do we support children and young people's rights and wellbeing?” and “Children and young people are safe, feel loved and get the most out of life.” The service was graded as 4 (good) for both indicators with no areas for improvement or requirements identified. 4.2.1 The 2025 inspection was an unannounced inspection which took place on 28, 30 and 31 October 2025. Visits to the service took place between 11:55 and 19:10, 09:45 and 17:10 and 09:35 and 17:10 respectively. The report was published in November 2025. 4.3 The inspection was carried out by one inspector from the Care Inspectorate and focused on one Quality Indicator “How well do we support children and young people's rights and wellbeing?”. 4.4 The process of inspection saw the inspector review information about the service including previous inspection findings, registration information, information submitted by the service and intelligence gathered since the last inspection. In making their evaluations of the service they reviewed survey responses from five family members, ten staff and nine external professionals. They spent time observing care of three children and young people. They spoke with two family members, eight staff and managers and one visiting professional. They observed practice and reviewed written policies and procedures. 4.4.1 This Quality Indicator was assessed as 4 (good). The inspection identified strong, nurturing relationships between staff and children, effective and individualised risk management, very minimal use of restrictive practices, highly personalised care routines, and effective medication management.
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4.4.2 No requirements or recommendations were identified from this inspection. 4.4.3 One area for improvement was identified in relation to staff support and supervision, linked to the Health and Social Care Standards (HSCS 3.14) and the SSSC Codes of Practice. This was: • To support staff welfare and enable them to carry out their role safely and effectively and provide the best quality care for young people, the provider should ensure the staff support and development framework is fully implemented. This should include, but is not limited to, regular staff supervision. 5. Service Response to Area for Improvement Identified 5.1 It was acknowledged that in the 12 months leading up to the inspection the service’s staffing levels were below quota due to a vacancy and 2 staff members on long term sick leave. These staffing levels had an impact on the service’s ability to offer a full-service provision, resulting in cancellations. 5.2 In response to the Care Inspectorate’s identified area for improvement, the service has strengthened staff support, supervision and development arrangements, with regular supervision reinstated and clearer expectations for frequency and recording. 5.3 Management records have been devised to support consistent oversight and quality assurance, alongside a review of the positive behaviour management framework to ensure staff have clear, trauma-informed guidance and confidence in practice. 6. Conclusion 6.1 The 2025 Care Inspectorate inspection provides assurance that Woodlea Cottage is delivering a good standard of care and support for children and young people with complex needs, with clear and proportionate improvement activity underway. 7. Impact and Value Assessment This report has been classified as being an operational report and as such does not require a full Impact and Value Assessment. 8. Appendix Appendix 1 - Woodlea Cottage Care Home Service, November 2025