EMPLOYEES at Scotland's care watchdog are demoralised and negative about their jobs, while rifts have developed between inspectors, their managers, and senior executives, a survey has revealed.

The Care Inspectorate commissioned the outside firm BMG to carry out the study of its 507 employees after a union-run survey revealed widespread problems 15 months ago.

The organisation, which monitors standards in care homes, services for vulnerable adults and children, and childminders and daycare providers, maintained the 2013 survey had only sought the views of union members, but the latest research, with an 84 per cent response rate across the workforce, is understood to have largely replicated its findings.

A summary of the results circulated to staff says employee engagement is poor. "Employees feel somewhat disconnected from the organisation as a whole ... levels of job satisfaction are low," it stated.

Staff told BMG that changes at the organisation had not been well-managed, communication was poor, and only a quarter of employers have had an annual assessment.

Employees also identified a lack of trust between different staff groups, the briefing explained: "There is a very clear disconnect between the wider workforce, team/line managers and senior managers and the executive team in a number of areas."

Staff have been told a partnership forum, comprising senior managers, executives and union representatives, will meet to prioritise addressing the problems revealed in the survey. However the survey also found fewer than 50 per cent of employees feel this forum is effective.

Face-to-face meetings will be held with employees, an action plan will address areas for improvement and focus groups will be scheduled around the country to look for solutions, the staff circular said, adding: "We would like to thank you for sharing your views in such an open and honest way."

Despite the frankness about the survey in the Care Inspectorate's message to staff, it is understood that it presents a far more positive picture than the full survey data, which was revealed to members of the partnership forum at a two-hour meeting on December 8.

The percentage responses to most questions have not yet been published but are believed to have been negative in almost every case, with very low confidence in the senior management team and high levels of dissatisfaction at all levels of the organisation.

Staff have been told the full findings will be shared with them after further analysis has been carried out by BMG.

Annette Bruton, chief executive at the Care Inspectorate, said: "Our staff do a superb job protecting vulnerable people across 14,000 care services. We are asking staff to work in different and new ways so we can protect the public better and help poor services improve their quality of care. Such big changes can be difficult.

"We want to support staff, so asked independent experts to survey views.

"Some results are encouraging - staff are passionate, enjoy their work, and are committed to the organisation with very low turnover - but there are areas where we will improve too.

"Staff want to see better internal communication about the changes we are making, be more involved in decisions, and understand how big changes in the care sector will impact on them. I am absolutely committed to working closely with trade unions to address these issues and we are agreeing an action plan with our staff."

Stephen Baillie, a full time GMB official and part of the partnership forum set up to address problems sat the Care Inspectorate, said staff had major concerns and the inspectorate's credibility was at risk.

"This is not a one-off survey," he said. "A survey carried out in 2013 had similar results showing a disaffected workforce. Management really need to take immediate and significant steps to build confidence back into a workforce that have extremely stressful and demanding jobs."