Inspectors and union leaders raise alarm over care standards at Isleshavn
Inspectors have found weaknesses in leadership and staffing at Isleshavn care centre in Mid Yell, reporting that staff feel overstretched while residents experience boredom and isolation. The Care Inspectorate’s report, published on Tuesday, prompted a warning from Unison that workers across Shetland’s care homes are being pushed to the limit.
Unison branch secretary Susanne Gens, who works at Isleshavn, described a system in which staff are operating as emergency responders with little opportunity for anything beyond essential tasks. The union says recruitment delays and high-dependency placements are combining to create a sustained pressure on teams.
“Members are telling us they are receiving at least weekly messages asking them to cover shifts with most staff working way above contracted hours,”
The Care Inspectorate noted that senior vacancies and workload pressures had reduced the time available for non-direct care duties. Inspectors observed committed staff delivering required care tasks, but highlighted limited opportunity for meaningful engagement with residents.
It is understood the service has been particularly strained following the loss of five full‑time staff amid a recent change in management. Shetland Islands Council acknowledged the “extremely challenging” environment and said it would develop action plans to deliver the improvements the report requires.
Local impact and practical concerns
Workers and union representatives raised several practical issues that are affecting service delivery and staff welfare:
- High‑need placements leading to increased workload per resident
- Delays in recruitment and the time taken to secure agency cover
- Staff routinely working beyond contracted hours and missing unpaid breaks
- Older buildings that can complicate care delivery
The combination of these factors, the union says, leaves remaining staff performing crisis management rather than providing the attentive, person‑centred care families expect.
| Issue | Observed effect |
|---|---|
| Senior vacancies and workload | Insufficient time for non‑direct care tasks |
| Staff losses (recent) | Reduced staffing capacity; increased pressure on remaining staff |
| Delayed recruitment/agency cover | Gaps in rosters; reliance on staff working extra shifts |
Shetland Islands Council has publicly recognised the difficulties facing care services and said it will put in place action plans to address the shortcomings identified by inspectors. The report and union comments will increase pressure on councillors and senior managers to set out a clear timeline for improvements, and to explain what support will be provided to staff and residents while changes are implemented.
Families and community members will be seeking reassurance that planned steps will lead to better staffing stability, more opportunities for meaningful activity for residents, and improved leadership capacity to manage the increasingly complex needs within residential settings in Shetland.
Further updates are expected as the council responds to the Care Inspectorate’s findings and as local unions continue to press for measures to protect staff welfare and resident care standards.
