A trouble-hit young people’s home in Arbroath is being investigated by a watchdog.
The Care Inspectorate is making inquiries at Brambles Cottages on the edge of the town after a concern was raised.
Bramble Cottages is a care home service for children and young people provided by Angus Council.
A spokesman for the Care Inspectorate said: “A concern has been raised with us about this service and we are considering all the information given to us carefully.
“Where we uphold a complaint, we publish the outcome on our website and outline what needs to improve. Anyone with a concern about a care service can contact us on 0345 600 9527.”
One staff member who broke ranks said the concerns were made in response to bullying.
However, the Care Inspectorate spokesman said he was unable to confirm the nature of the concerns.
He was also unable to provide a timescale as to how long the investigation will take.
The probe comes just two years after staffing and management at the care home service was branded “weak” following an unannounced inspection.
The result was in sharp contrast to the “good” and “very good” ratings the home had been consistently receiving in the past decade.
Some youngsters were found to be “anxious and unsettled”, with the inspector suggesting many of the issues were due to stretched staffing levels as a result of the “precautionary suspension” of staff pending investigation.
Allegations against the staff were later found to be unsubstantiated.
The Care Inspectorate report led to a number of key recommendations being delivered.
The findings of a follow-up inspection in August revealed all appropriate actions were met within the set timescales.
Improvements included a comprehensive assessment of staffing requirements, a recruitment drive and increase in sessional staff along with the implementation of an admissions policy including an assessment of the suitability of a young person for placement in the home setting, and the impact of new admissions on those already living there.
Education provision was also reviewed to help enable the young people there to achieve their academic potential.
An Angus Council spokesman said: “We are aware of the complaint and are assisting the Care Inspectorate with their investigation.”
