A support service for young people, based in Ayr, has been given the thumbs-up by the Care Inspectorate.
Quarriers South Ayrshire Youth Support Service, based in the town’s Chalmers Road, was graded ‘very good’ across two quality indicators.
The gradings follow an unannounced inspection in August with the findings now published.
Among the key messages the Care Inspectorate said the views, wishes and aspirations of young people were “prioritised.”
In addition, the service provided an internal counselling service which was “valued” and “used regularly” by the young people.
Service users also told the care scrutiny body that they felt part of the service, and that they made “lifelong memories.”
Another notable plus point identified was that family members attributed an “improvement” in their relationship with their child to the support their child and they received from the service.
Some areas for the service to consider included a more ‘formal’ assessment of staffing levels and needs.
Quarriers South Ayrshire Youth Support Service is registered to provide support to young people between 16 and 26.
Staff support people 24/7 with individual support hours based on assessed need.
The service is comprised of a cluster of seven self-contained flats adjacent to the team base, and two flats nearby. The team base also hosts a garden room which young people have access to, and use to spend time with staff members.
An extract from the Care Inspectorate report said: “We found significant strengths in aspects of the care provided and how these supported positive outcomes for young people.
“The views, wishes and aspirations of young people were prioritised by the service. The service demonstrated important strengths in the way they accessed and promoted links to health, cultural and religious needs of young people. This meant that young people felt a sense of belonging.”
The report continues: “Staff had a good knowledge of young people and their needs. There was a focus on growth and development to help them engage in their care, education and employment.
“One young person told us that they ‘couldn’t see their life past 16, but the service has given me that’. Most young people were attending college or employment. Young people were supported to attend with views to promoting appropriate independence.”
The staff team and the service’s ability to support people’s wellbeing were both graded ‘very good.’
The report adds: “Communal areas were made homely and young people benefitted from a new garden room which allowed them to spent time with the staff team. These areas were filled with photographs of young people and adults and their shared experiences. Young people told us they felt part of the service, and that they made lifelong memories.”