Border Caring Services, which has its head office at Ettrick Riverside, is the largest independent deliverer of home care in the region and currently provides 70,000 hours a year to Scottish Borders Council’s social work department.

A report by the Care Commission following an inspection last month gives the not-for-profit organisation ratings of “very good” across three criteria: quality of care and support, staffing and management/leadership.

The news was welcomed by BCS board director Val Robson who told The Wee Paper: “Our mission statement makes it clear our main aim is to develop and deliver person-centred care services of the highest quality. This report on a detailed inspection demonstrates these are not just empty words.”

BCS provides support for 360 people in the region and has 170 staff, the vast majority of whom are care attendants.

The registered charity is the preferred independent provider of homecare services to Scottish Borders Council and has also recently secured a deal with NHS Borders to provide an at-home palliative care service, complementing the more specialised services of district nurses and staff from Macmillan Cancer Support.

The commission inspectors talked to clients and their relatives as well as BCS staff during their visit.

Mrs Robson said of the report: “This was achieved by a dedicated and professional staff, both in the office and at the coal face. It is essential those who receive homecare services know they are in safe hands.

“Behind every individual care plan is a raft of legislation and procedural guidance which has to be understood and put into action. It is good to know we have been doing, and have been seen to be doing, the right things.”

BCS general manager Karen Paterson added: “Inspections can be seen as quite daunting, but we actually welcomed this opportunity to show we are achieving the high standards expected by the Care Commission.”