The Care Inspectorate has given strong endorsements to a cluster of children’s residential services run by the charity Kibble on sites in Renfrewshire, with inspectors describing one service as “sector leading” and awarding the highest possible grade of Excellent to primary‑aged provision.
Inspection results and local services
Inspectors conducted unannounced visits this summer to Kibble’s Lochwinnoch campus and to intensive services based in Paisley. The report singled out the Ness and Tay houses — which support neurodiverse children aged five to 12 and are part of the Forest View service at Lochwinnoch — as meeting the criteria for an Excellent grading. The Cochrane House units in Paisley, which support older children, were graded Very Good.
| Service | Location | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Ness and Tay (Forest View) | Lochwinnoch | Excellent |
| Cochrane House 1, 2 and 3 | Paisley | Very Good |
What inspectors highlighted
The inspection praised skilled, caring teams and the creation of nurturing environments where children are supported to progress. Inspectors specifically commended the services’ communication approaches, such as the use of Makaton, which combines speech with signs and symbols to support children with communication needs.
"What inspectors saw during the visit is what happens here every day: skilled, caring teams creating safe, nurturing environments where children and young people feel supported and encouraged to thrive."
Services and community impact
The reports noted that the services form part of Kibble’s wider network offering care, education and specialist support for children who have experienced trauma, adversity or disruption to family life. Family members who contributed to the inspection described the care as an extension of their own family, praising the warmth and affection shown by staff.
- Primary‑age provision (Ness and Tay) — trauma‑informed, neurodiversity‑aware, graded Excellent.
- Secondary provision (Cochrane House) — supports older children, graded Very Good; inspectors noted strengths in rights, wellbeing and outcomes.
- Use of communication tools — Makaton and other approaches were highlighted as effective in promoting participation and engagement.
Local services and next steps
For Renfrewshire residents, the inspection offers reassurance about the quality of care available locally for some of the most vulnerable children and young people. The Care Inspectorate also recorded that areas for improvement identified in earlier inspections had been addressed by staff at the Cochrane House units, signalling ongoing development and responsiveness to oversight.
The full inspection reports will be available via the Care Inspectorate’s website; they provide more detail on how Kibble’s approaches to trauma‑informed care, education and community participation contributed to the gradings awarded this summer.
