Source · Care Inspectorate

Hillside School

Provider Hillside School (Aberdour) Ltd Type School Care Accommodation Service Location Burntisland Last graded 11 Jun 2026

Recorded Key Question grade range: 5 — Very good  View on Care Inspectorate

Key Question scores

Six-point scale
Support and wellbeing
5
Care and support planning
5
Setting
5
Staff team
5
Leadership
5
Care, play and learning

Enforcement

4 actions

Formal enforcement action under the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010.

S62 (Improvement notice) 9 September 2024
Case 2024383317

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S62 (Improvement notice) 17 June 2024
Case 2024383317

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S62 (Improvement notice) 8 April 2024
Case 2024383317

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S62 (Improvement notice) 26 January 2024
Case 2024383317

View document

Requirements & recommendations

2 requirements · 1 recommendation

Verbatim text from the Care Inspectorate datastore. Requirements cite a specific regulation and deadline; recommendations are good-practice guidance against the Health and Social Care Standards.

Visit: 22 October 2025
Requirement 1

1. By 16 January 2026, the provider must ensure there is evaluative scrutiny and oversight of all aspects of the care provision within the service. This is to ensure that children and young people experience high quality, consistent care and support. In particular, you must: a) ensure that governance arrangements continue to be developed and implemented. This should include the services use of 'critical friends'; and b) provide Care Inspectorate with a progress report reviewing governance processes and their efficacy by 16th January 2026. This is to comply with Regulation 3, Regulation 4(1)(a) and Regulation 5 of The Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (Requirements for Care Services) Regulations 2011 (SSI 2011/ 210). This is to ensure that care and support is consistent with the Health and Social Care Standards (HCSC) which state that: 'I use a service and orgnisation that are well led and managed' (HSCS 4.23).

· Deadline: 16 January 2026
Requirement 2

2. By 30 January 2026, the provider must strengthen and implement its performance management structures for staff. This is to ensure that children and young people experience high quality and, consistent care and support. In particular, you must: a) ensure that these are routinely implemented at all levels, and that senior managers and external governance have oversight of this. This is to comply with Regulation 3 and Regulation 4(1)(a) of The Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (Requirements for Care Services) Regulations 2011 (SSI 2011/ 210). This is to ensure that care and support is consistent with the Health and Social Care Standards (HCSC) which state that: 'If I have a carer, their needs are assessed and support provided' (HSCS 4.26).

· Deadline: 30 January 2026
Recommendation 1

1. To support children's wellbeing, the provider should review its complaints handling processes. This should include improving quality assurance systems to ensure that complaints are handled inline with organisational objectives. This is to ensure that care and support is consistent with the Health and Social Care Standards (HSCS) which state that: 'I benefit from a culture of continuous improvement, with the organisation having robust and transparent quality assurance processes' (HSCS 4.19).2. To support children's wellbeing, the provider should ensure that they follow 'Matching Looked After Children and Young People: Admissions Guidance for Residential Services', published by the care inspectorate'. This should include but is not limited to: a) Ensure they consider the potential impact on existing young people within the service, including identifying specifically which house they will reside in. b) Ensure they consider staffing levels, skills, mix and any current staff vacancies. This is to ensure that care and support is consistent with the Health and Social Care Standards (HSCS) which state that: 'I am in the right place to experience the care and support I need and want' (HSCS 1.20).

Conditions of registration

As published by the Care Inspectorate

Number(s) and Age(s) of person(s) to whom service may be provided:

1. The care service may provide residential school care for 35 children aged from 8 years up to 19 years and in full time education.

Any other conditions unique to the service:

2. The care service may operate 52 weeks of the year.

Registry facts

Service no: CS2003007038
Provider no: SP2003001612
Ownership: Private
Registered places: 35
Registered: 1 April 2002
Council area: Fife
Health board: Fife
Integration authority: Fife
Risk band: HIGH