A WEST Fife school is under threat after an inspection identified "serious and significant" concerns about the quality of care provision.

The Care Inspectorate has ordered urgent improvements be made at Hillside School in Aberdour and ordered the facility to ensure no child or young person is subject to restraint unless it is the "only practicable means" of securing their welfare and safety.

Confirming the improvement notice, a spokesperson for the Care Inspectorate explained: “An inspection has identified serious and significant concerns about the quality of care experienced by young people at Hillside School in Fife.

“We understand this is a difficult and distressing time for young people, their families and staff at the service.

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“However, our first priority is always the health and wellbeing of young people.

"Because of our concerns about the safety of young people we have issued an Improvement Notice to the service. This sets out the significant improvements that must be made within a specified timeframe.

“We are working closely with partners including relevant local authorities and Education Scotland to ensure that young people experience appropriate care during this difficult time."

Hillside School provides 52-week residential care and education for young people aged 8-19 who have complex and/or additional support needs.

It has been ordered to carry out improvements which, if not met, the Care Inspectorate say may result in them making a proposal to cancel the school's registration.

By February 16, the school "must ensure" that no child or young person is subject to restraint unless it is the only practicable means of securing the welfare and safety of the child or young person.

This includes a "robust review" of approved restraint techniques taking place as well as an evaluation of how these are used and the impact that high risk holds have on the children and young people.

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The school must also ensure that all children and young people’s personal plans and risk assessments are appropriately detailed and updated regularly in relation to the use of restraint and restrictive practices.

The Care Inspectorate also told the school to ensure any incidents of improper use of restraint are dealt with appropriately and ensure that staff have been trained in restraint and restrictive practice and are competent to meet the needs of children and young people.

By March 1, the school must ensure that the child and adult protection practice is reviewed and developed. This review must be informed by effective analysis of safeguarding issues to ensure the safety of children and young people.

By March 8, the school must ensure that at all times suitably qualified and competent persons are working in the care service in such numbers as are appropriate for the health, welfare and safety of children and young people and that there are processes in place to identify and appropriately respond to any concerns about staff competence and practice.

By February 23, the school must ensure that there are effective systems in place for the identification, assessment, analysis, management and mitigation of risk.

By 15 March, they must ensure there is evaluative scrutiny and oversight of all aspects of the care provision within the service to ensure that children and young people experience high quality, consistent care and support.

The improvement notice warns the school: "Please note that where more than one improvement is specified, failure to demonstrate compliance with any one of the improvements within the required timescale may result in us proceeding to make a proposal to cancel registration."

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A spokesperson for Hillside School said: "Hillside school is committed to make the necessary improvements detailed in the Care Inspectorate’s Improvement Notice.

"We are grateful to the Care Inspectorate for their ongoing support. Hillside School will work towards meeting all of the specified improvements in the required time scales."