High Praise for Blairgowrie Care Home

Staff at the 45-bedroom care home, which has been recently refurbished, were commended for providing “safe, effective and personalised” care, and building “kind and respectful relationships with people, which supported their wellbeing.”

Beech Manor was also praised for maintaining strong links with the local community, and the inspection noted that “people were supported to stay connected with those who were important to them”.

The home was awarded a grade of 5 – “very good” - for its support of people’s wellbeing and leadership.

The Care Inspectorate carries out regular assessments of more than 11,000 registered care services in Scotland to ensure quality of care meets high standards.

Key areas including care and support, physical environment, quality of staffing, and quality of management and leadership, are graded on a scale from 1 to 6, where 1 is unsatisfactory and 6 is excellent.

An inspector spent three days at Beech Manor in April and spoke with residents, staff and visitors.

Their report, which is available on the Care Inspectorate’s website, states: “We found significant strengths in aspects of the care provided and how these supported positive outcomes for people. People were supported by staff who knew them very well, which resulted in care that felt personal and encouraging. This was evidenced through many warm, relaxed and genuine interactions. We observed positive communication and a focus from staff on promoting people's choice and independence.”

The home was also commended for expanding its wellbeing team, which was praised for their “creativity and enthusiasm” in organising a range of activities such as regular entertainment, chat groups, chair yoga and carpet bowls, “which were clearly popular and supported people to maintain their skills and abilities.”

It was also noted that improvements to the bar area and activity room “had a positive impact on social interaction and the overall feel of the service” and that residents benefitted from a well-maintained, accessible garden.

The report added: “The environment enhanced people's experiences. The service was clean, well maintained and provided a welcoming setting where people could feel comfortable and secure.”

Judith Meaden, manager at Beech Manor, said: "Our team has worked incredibly hard to create a warm, nurturing and family-oriented environment that residents are proud to call home.

“The recent refurbishments have further enhanced the living experience at Beech Manor, creating welcoming spaces for residents to relax, socialise and enjoy daily life. We feel privileged to support our residents' wellbeing and to provide a home where they can live comfortably, independently and with dignity."