A Stornoway care home supporting people with learning disabilities has been praised for the quality of its care, with inspectors describing the service as “very good” following an unannounced inspection.

Ardseileach, in Macdonald Road, Stornoway, received a grade of five out of six for how well it supports residents’ wellbeing in a report published by the Care Inspectorate.

The inspection took place over three days, from June 8 to 10, 2026, and found that residents were happy and comfortable in the home, with staff demonstrating a strong understanding of their individual needs, wishes and preferences.

The home, which is provided by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, accommodates up to 12 people with learning disabilities. Three places can be offered for respite care and one for emergency care and support.

Inspectors highlighted the relaxed atmosphere at Ardseileach, where residents were supported to spend their days in ways that suited them. Some attended groups and activities in the community, while others preferred to take part in activities within the home.

The report said staff knew residents well, were attentive to their needs and were quick to recognise changes in their health or wellbeing.

Residents had developed good relationships with a settled staff team and trusted those supporting them. Families also spoke positively about the service.

Inspectors found that care records contained detailed information about residents’ health conditions and support requirements, helping staff provide appropriate care and identify potential risks.

The home also worked closely with other health and social care agencies to ensure residents received the right support. 

Where changes were anticipated in a person’s circumstances, staff planned ahead and focused on their best interests, the inspectors found.

Residents and their families or representatives had regular opportunities to discuss care arrangements and express their wishes. Review meetings were held approximately every six months, allowing individual needs and preferences to be considered, the report adds.

The inspection report also praised the management team, saying managers and senior staff were approachable and closely involved in what was happening within the service.

Communication between staff was described as being of a high standard, while staff reported feeling well supported.
However, the report identified areas where further improvements could be made, particularly in record-keeping and the consistency of quality assurance.

Although the service maintained good records of key aspects of care, inspectors said there was still room to improve documentation relating to some areas, including dental and oral care.

Management was also encouraged to make quality assurance processes more consistent and ensure greater consistency in staff practice.

The service already carried out checks on care and support, including monitoring records, staff observations, training and supervision. The manager confirmed that plans were in place to strengthen consistency in these arrangements.
Inspectors said they were confident that management would address the issues requiring further attention.

The report also noted progress in tackling a previous area for improvement concerning health monitoring charts and records, which had been raised in February 2025.

That requirement was judged to have been met, with a noticeable improvement in the completion of forms and fewer gaps in records. Better documentation was helping staff provide appropriate care, including support with skin care and fluid intake.

No complaints had been upheld against the service since the previous inspection.

Emma MacSween, who was appointed Chief Officer, Health and Social Care at The Western Isles Integration Joint Board in May this year  said: “We welcome this inspection report which clearly demonstrates the high quality of the service delivered at Ardseileach. The inspection report rightly recognises the excellent work of our staff time and singles out their support for the wellbeing of residents. I would like to thank the inspectors, residents, and families for their cooperation throughout the inspection process and our care home management and staff team for their continued hard work and dedication.”

The Western Isles Integration Joint Board is a partnership between NHS Western Isles and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, along with third and independent sector providers of health and social care.

The Care Inspectorate concluded that Ardseileach demonstrated major strengths in supporting positive outcomes for residents, with very few areas requiring improvement and no need for significant adjustment to the service.

The inspection involved discussions with two residents, two family members, six staff and management, alongside observations of daily life, reviews of documentation and conversations with visiting professionals.