Homeless hostel rated 'Excellent'

Dunedin Harbour Hostel has been awarded the highest grading of Excellent for the second year in a row following a recent unannounced inspection by the Care Inspectorate.

Harbour given top rating by Care Inspectorate

The Inspection Report noted that people ‘spoke highly of the staff and told us about the positive difference the service had made in their lives’ with one person commenting that ‘The staff are so respectful. They help you with anything. I get all the help I need’.

The report went on to say that ‘Staff were excellent at getting alongside people so they could use other services. They were very good at judging the level of support the person needed’.

It also makes mention of how staff are always working to improve the service with ‘everyone taking responsibility in leading areas for improvement’.

Dunedin Harbour is a ‘wet hostel’ which provides high quality accommodation and person centred support from a qualified staff team, to homeless individuals with complex needs, many exhibiting very challenging behaviour.

Service users have access to a wide range of additional services including community health, addiction groups, employability training, art therapy, IT classes and sports groups.

Dunedin Harbour was the first hostel in Edinburgh to accommodate couples and accept pets. It provides a unique monthly dog surgery staffed by students from the local veterinary school.

The service was augmented in 2015 by the creation of a Resettlement Scheme, which gives hostel residents the opportunity to gain home making and independent living skills that will enable them to sustain a permanent tenancy in the community.  These positive pathways were noted in the report.

Hazel Young, Dunedin Canmore Managing Director, said: "Dunedin Harbour is a real source of pride for the staff at Dunedin Canmore.  I’m delighted with this significant recognition of all the staff’s hard work.”

Email:

Thursday, June 22, 2017