Annual review of social services 2013/14
Posted on Tuesday 10th February 2015
Newport City Council's cabinet has endorsed the assessment of social services made by the Care and Social Services Inspectorate for Wales (CSSIW) in its annual review and evaluation of performance.
Cabinet members also agreed that annual report of the director of social services should set out how the continuing need for further development and improvement will be addressed.
The CSSIW's comprehensive review of 2013/14 included key strengths as well as areas where improvements needed to be made while highlighting some of the complex challenges facing the council.
It did find the council had a good understanding of its strengths and weaknesses and where it needed to improve performance.
The report added that the council's new commissioning plan for adults had the potential to bridge the performance cap but it had yet to be implemented.
Councillor Paul Cockeram, cabinet member for social care and wellbeing, said: "We are working in a time of severe financial pressures and growing numbers of people who need care at a time when we are embarking on a major modernisation programme to ensure people receive the best possible services when they need them.
"In the coming years, we will also have to heed the new Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act which says we will have to be responsible not just for the two per cent of Newport's population with identified care needs but all our residents.
"Balancing these demands is not an easy task but we are determined not to lose sight of the fact that older people and people with disabilities must be at the heart of what we do. I am obviously pleased by the positives highlighted by the report but my priority will be to ensure we continue to address the issues raised by the CSSIW.
"it is encouraging to note that performance so far this year is greatly improved, and I am pleased to report a significant reduction in the numbers of delayed transfers of care. I recognise that our residential homes for adults needed improvement and, following significant investments this year, they are now functioning well. My focus now is on maintaining areas of excellence and ensuring that improvements in service quality are embedded."
Councillor Debbie Wilcox, cabinet member for education and young people, said: "Protecting our most vulnerable children is one of the most important roles that the council undertakes.
"The CSSIW has said there are good practices in children's services, such as our strong partnership with Barnados, and progress has been made in a number of areas. We are already taking steps to ensure the necessary improvements are being made where they are needed.
"Providing high-quality services against a backdrop of diminishing funds and increasing pressures is extremely challenging but, as a council, we must continually strive to ensure we provide the care and support wherever, and whenever, it is needed."
The cabinet, who 18 months ago took the decision to invest an additional £7 million in social services, were told one of the strengths of the service was the widespread consultation that
was carried out on proposals for change or initiatives such as the commissioning strategy for adult services.