Warwickshire delivers good results for residents
Warwickshire’s Adult Social Care Services are “performing well” and improving outcomes for residents according to independent inspectors.
The ratings have been announced by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), which is the new health and social care regulator for England. The CQC’s thorough annual assessment of Warwickshire’s Adult Social Care Services found that the county continues to improve and sustain good standards.
In its report published today (Thursday 3 December), the regulator said that the county continues to ‘perform well’ across the board and has achieved ‘excellent’, the highest possible rating, for ‘making a positive contribution’.
The commission said that the council is delivering good outcomes for Warwickshire residents including improved health and emotional wellbeing, improved quality of life, increased choice and control of services. Praise was also given to the work that the council is doing to increase people’s economic wellbeing and maintaining personal dignity and respect.
The service also leapt from an ‘adequate’ last year to a ‘performing well’ judgement in 2008/9 for ‘freedom from discrimination and harassment’. This means that the council is ‘performing well’ or ‘excellently’ in all categories.
Inspectors noted the way that the council is putting the customer in the driving seat and praised the increased number of people taking ’self-directed support’ as a key strength. Self-directed support means that individuals are given money to buy the care they need and choose the kind of support that is right for them.
It is widely known that older people receiving direct payments or personal budgets feel happier‚ more motivated and have improved quality of life and the council is encouraging and supporting even more people to take advantage of the scheme.
Cllr Colin Hayfield, Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care at Warwickshire County Council, welcomed the progress and said: “Our performance ratings demonstrate the priority that Warwickshire County Council places on improving outcomes for older people and adults with learning disabilities.
“Despite increased budgetary pressures, the service has sustained and improved high standards and all our staff should be proud of this achievement.”
Dr Graeme Betts, Strategic Director of Adult, Health and Community Services at Warwickshire County Council, said: “Much of the progress we have made reflects our ‘Putting People First’ agenda, which is all about people having choice and control over their care so that we can personalise services to meet their needs.
"We are committed to driving up standards and we will build on our success.”