Health service oversight of care homes that was introduced during the pandemic to protect residents has been criticised for showing a ‘lack of understanding’ of residential care.

A survey by the care providers’ organisation, Scottish Care found most care homes did not feel the arrangements had improved outcomes.

One manager quoted in the report said the visits were “determined to find fault… and [highlighted] an acute lack of knowledge about what constitutes good care for the elderly”.

Common concerns relate to health service teams being too focused on infection control rather than residents’ quality of life but some providers said unfair criticism had “decimated” staff morale.

Scottish Care is now calling for a review of the oversight structures in place.

The organisation says: ‘For many, it has felt like the oversight arrangements introduced in May 2020 have created confusion in the landscape…Worryingly, this experience detracts from prioritising the needs and wellbeing of those in receipt of care and support.’

Extra support for care homes was introduced in May 2020 at the height of the first wave of the pandemic.

Health boards and local authorities were told to take what the Scottish government said was a ‘lead role’ in oversight to keep residents safe.

NHS nurse and medical Directors were asked to take ‘direct responsibility’ for clinical support and provide advice on infection control measures.

But today’s report, which is based on a survey of 152 care homes, suggests the move led to confusion about how this fitted in with responsibilities of the existing statutory regulator.

One respondent said: “I had two oversight visits which were thorough and reassuring only for the Care Inspectorate to come in and grade us ‘2’ [weak] on the same thing. One of them is wrong.”

Others criticised a “big brother” approach by oversight teams, with one stating: “If anything, the battering staff morale took after assurance visit reduced outcomes for residents as the staff struggled to feel their value in the workplace.”

Some 57% said oversight had not helped to improve residents’ outcomes.

Around half of the respondents felt the Care Inspectorate – which regulates the sector alongside the oversight teams – lacked sufficient expertise.

‘Approaches to inspection are increasingly clinical since the pandemic, but more so since the introduction of oversight arrangements as they do not take the social care context/homely setting into consideration,’ the report states.

Read more: Government review admits care home ‘search for blame’; Double standards claim over NHS & care home deaths; Lack of home care deaths investigations ‘unjust’

Sign up to our bulletin for key health & social care updates straight to your inbox.