Statement on Moss Park Care Home

Putting residents and their families first is our top priority and we have contacted residents directly to update them. Residents have been involved in discussions about care planning and these will continue. As we are now working towards NHS Highland managing the home, there is the option for residents to remain in the home with no immediate changes. All parties will be working to ensure a smooth transition from the current provider and residents will be kept updated of progress.

All parties will be working to achieve purchase and transfer. The successful conclusion of this is not guaranteed but it is absolutely our aim to achieve this and minimise disruption to residents and relatives.

HC-One had provided the required notice period to close the service of 13 weeks and that placed a duty upon social work teams to take actions to ensure suitable alternative care for residents. There were a number of options to be explored and no certainty of a positive outcome, making it necessary to plan for closure.

This has been a complex situation, with significant resident, legal, financial and regulatory implications to be considered.

The aim of securing the service is to avoid immediate disruption for residents and secure care provision in Lochaber. In the medium to longer term, that may be in a different care model in the locality, to ensure the care solution is fit for the future.  Securing services at Moss Park just now will enable time to plan for this.

We anticipate needing services to continue at Moss Park for around two to three years. 

All residents, including those who have recently relocated, will maintain contact with their link worker from their social work team.

It may be that some residents, relatives or legal proxys wish to continue to consider relocation for individual and specific reasons. Teams will support with this discussion as required.

NHS Highland, The Highland Council, and HC-One have agreed a proposed service transfer date of 1 April 2025.

In the coming weeks, NHS Highland and The Highland Council will continue to work closely with HC-One to conclude legal matters, establish registration with the Care Inspectorate and manage the practical arrangements that need to be in place to ensure a seamless transition.

There has been ongoing discussion with the Care Inspectorate and we will be working closely with them to attain the necessary registration.

This is commercially sensitive information and not able to be disclosed.

It is the intention that Highland Council will acquire outright ownership of the site and property. 

The committed and dedicated team at Moss Park are key to the retention of the service, and have been informed of these plans. We understand that staff will have concerns about future employment and aim to provide information and reassurance going forward.

Should the service successfully be transferred to NHS Highland, then staff would be offered the opportunity to become NHS Highland employees.

As with any transfer of service, there is a specific process that is followed to protect the interests of current staff. At this time the staff remain employees of HC-One or bank/agency staff procured by HC-One and we will be working very closely with HC-One and trade unions to keep them informed.

Please ask questions you would like to see answered here:

email nhsh.listening@nhs.scot