A TROUBLED healthcare service has won an NHS award.

Cordia, an arm's-length Glasgow City Council firm, picked up a gong for its reablement service at the national NHS Scotland Event 2016.

But the win comes after Cordia staff and other service users spoke out about problems at the care provider.

They told of missed visits to the elderly and vulnerable following a new shift pattern introduced by the company in June last year.

Now an academic poster designed by Cordia home care on behalf of Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership has beaten off competition from 200 others to win the award for Leading Transformational Change for Health and Social Care.

The reablement service was developed in 2011, by a partnership of Cordia, Glasgow City Council and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

The programme provides tailored support to service users in their own home, helping them regain the skills to live as independently, safely and confidently as possible.

According to the arms-length body (ALEO), in 2015/16, 40 per cent of service users completed their reablement program and no longer required homecare, and those that still required support from homecare typically needed a 20% reduction in care packages.

Earlier this year the Evening Times told how the care provider had its rating downgraded by inspectors.

Cordia care services were branded "adequate" in 2014/15 by Scotland's national care regulator - a drop from the previous two years' "good" rating.

In February we also told how the ALEO overspent by almost £3 million in the last nine months, according to council figures.

That same month, we told how discussions, which would see the dismantling of Cordia, are at an advanced stage.

The company employs about 7000 staff, most of whom will move across to the council by the end of the year.

Frances McMeeking, Cordia’s Head of Care Services and Reablement Steering Group Chair said: “The reablement service has seen over 7500 service users completing the service since October 2011 and has now been recognised as best in class in Scotland.

“We are implementing real change in the way care is provided in Glasgow, and reablement is a perfect example of an integrated, person-centred homecare service.

“The academic poster was excellently designed, meeting the strict criteria of the competition. It succinctly communicated the aim, method and results of reablement, in less than 300 words, using infographics and strong imagery.

“Not only is reablement helping service users reach their own goals and allowing them more independence, but almost 1000 fewer people are relying on homecare per typical day, which allows our resources to be directed to those who need it most.

“I’d like to offer a huge congratulation to the Glasgow partnership reablement service for winning the transformational change award, an excellent effort from all involved.”