Quality of social care earns praise

OLDHAM’S Adult Social Care Services has been assessed as performing well by inspectors.

Across the seven areas of performance judged, three were labelled excellent and four as performing well — above or well above average in all of them.

Council chiefs say it confirms that year-on-year improvements are continuing to be made since the former Oldham Social Services was handed a no-star rating in 2003.

The Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) 2009 annual performance assessment gradings rated improving health and wellbeing; increasing choice and control; and achieving economic wellbeing as excellent. Improved quality of life; making a positive contribution; freedom from discrimination and harassment; and maintaining dignity and respect were all rated as performing well.

The independent report will go before Oldham Council’s cabinet tomorrow.

Councillor Brian Lord, cabinet member for adult services and health, said: “We are very pleased with the outcome of this assessment and it shows the council’s Adult Social Care Service has maintained the strong progress evident in previous years.

“In order to achieve this rating the department must be judged to be consistently performing above the average in its service delivery to vulnerable people and it has shown it is doing that.

“However, we are not resting on our laurels and we hope to improve our rating next year.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Adult Social Care Service staff for their great work during the recent cold weather.

“Like the vast majority of council employees they went out of their way to make sure the borough and its people were safe and sound — some even walking for miles in the snow to see people.”

CQC — the independent regulator of health and adult social care services in England — published its first-ever annual report into the performance of local authorities in December last year.

The document set out how well local councils arranged and provided adult social care services during the year ending March, 2009.

The council’s services were previously awarded a three-star performing well rating in 2008 by the previous regulator, the Commission for Social Care Inspection.

Veronica Jackson, executive director for people, communities and society, said: “The Adult Social Services team are delighted by this report and I’d like to thank all our staff for their contributions to these achievements.

“The team has worked tirelessly to offer personalised advice and information, support to help people live independently, and offering individual budgets and local services to meet people’s needs.

“We’re pleased to be recognised as one of only 26 councils nationally who have excelled in giving people clear choices about how and where they receive support.”