A SERVICE dedicated to providing housing support and care at home for people with learning disabilities has been graded "excellent" following an unannounced inspection.

NHS Forth Valley's Community Residential Resources and Housing Support Service, which supports 27 people, received the praise following an unannounced visit by the Care Inspectorate in June.

In a report published last week, it received the highest possible grades of "excellent" on how well it supports people's wellbeing and for its quality of leadership.

The report said: "We evaluated this key question as excellent, where performance was sector leading with outstandingly high outcomes for people.

"People were valued, listened to and respected across the service."

Inspectors added that residential resources worked in a "truly person-centred way" with people feeling like they were listened to.

For leadership, inspectors noted a culture of continuous learning and development, fully embedded across the service.

Helen Macdonald, local service manager, said: "It is a credit to all service users and staff who work in partnership to get the best for everyone.

"I am delighted that the Care Inspectorate has recognised the hard work carried out."

Inspectors spoke to 17 members of staff, spent time with 23 people using the service from across the Forth Valley and observed practice and daily life while reviewing documents and speaking with visiting professionals.

Marlyn Gardner, locality manager at the Falkirk Health and Social Care Partnership, said: "What we are trying to do is to widen the experience, opportunities and choices for people with a learning disability.

"This is a fantastic result and I am really proud of our staff.

"People told the Care Inspectorate they felt listened to, they liked local staff and could have a laugh and a joke with them.

"They also appreciated how they were encouraged to maintain connections with family and friends.

"The team had supported someone who used the service to have a will drawn up with appropriate legal advice and guidance, so that their wishes could be carried out after their death.

"We are very much here for all our clients."