Care Inspectorate praise staff at Inverclyde Women's Aid

The voluntary organisation, which provides services for those experiencing domestic and sexual abuse, received an unannounced visit from Care Inspectorate over two days last month.

Inspectors spoke with service users, staff and management, as well as observing practice and reviewing documents.

Following the visit, the charity’s staff team and support for people’s wellbeing were both rated as ‘good’.

A report detailing the findings of the inspection says that careful prioritising meant women and their children had experienced positive transitions into suitable housing.

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Regular drop-in sessions facilitated by outreach workers were also highlighted as helping people to familiarise themselves with future supports.

The Care Inspectorate said: “When women arrived at the refuge, their accommodation had been thoughtfully prepared in advance, with essential items already in place.

"They were given helpful information by workers who were respectful and non-judgemental about women and their experience of domestic abuse.

“By giving them time and space to engage at a pace suited to their needs, women could tell us that workers had helped them to feel safer, supporting them to navigate their emotions through an immensely difficult time in their lives.”

Service users who were spoken with during the inspection praised the staff for the support they provided.

One said: “It's been amazing and I'm really grateful.”

Another added: "I feel safer than I have in long time."

Inverclyde Women’s Aid’s staff team were described as ‘compassionate workers’ in the report, with women saying they were ‘blown away’ by the standard of support and accommodation they had received from them.

Inspectors have asked bosses to further develop personal plans to ensure those using the service can reflect on their choices, decisions and achievements.

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In their report the inspectors said: “Women told us that workers created the optimum environment for them to explore and better understand the impact of domestic abuse on their lives.

“Some women who had moved into their own accommodation since leaving the refuge said that they had been enabled to move forward in their lives because of the unwavering support they had received from workers."

The report states that while leadership at the organisation had improved since the previous inspection, further clarity of role was required and that improved planning was still to be explored.

It was also noted within the report that the charity had actioned several areas for improvement identified back in September 2022, including one concerning social events.

Since then, events such as movie and quiz nights have been arranged which allow people using the service to meet up.

Linda Harkin, director of Inverclyde Women’s Aid, said: “We are of course delighted that the Care Inspector could recognise, see and feel the differences made to the service that will continue to benefit the women, children and young people we support through very difficult situations.

“The feedback from those using our services was truly humbling and we are honoured to have been a part of their journey.

“We have worked really hard as a team to improve in all we do, and we will continue to do this.

“The amount of training the team have undertaken to enhance their skills has been inspiring and they deserve this recognition of all their hard work and commitment to providing the highest level of support to those using our services.”