Council social care services improve for fifth year running
29 November 2007
People whose councils provide or arrange their social care are
benefitting from improved services for the fifth successive
year.
Councils that improved this year demonstrated a greater focus on
outcomes for people, including good intermediate care that avoids
admission to hospital, support for carers, and homecare services
that help people remain in their own homes.
Indicating a similar pattern to last year, the Performance
Ratings for Adult Social Services in England 2007, published today,
shows that star ratings improved for 24 councils, but deteriorated
for 15. While nine councils raised their game to achieve the top
three-star rating in 2007, five that were awarded three stars last
year have dropped to two stars. This drop reflects the need to
maintain a high level of performance in order the keep the coveted
three stars.
For the second year running there are no councils providing
people with a zero-rated service. There are 28 councils (19%) with
one star, 74 (49%) with two stars and 48 (32%) with three
stars.
CSCI Chief Inspector Paul Snell said: “People who are eligible
for social care arranged by their own council are receiving an
improved service.
“The councils serving people well aren’t just providing good
social care services, they are constantly raising their game and
aiming high to continually improve, and provide the best possible
services for local people.”
Today’s report shows that the greatest improvements in
performance are evident in the movement between one and two stars.
Fifteen councils moved up to two stars in 2007 as a result of
improved services, nine of which CSCI had deemed last year to be
‘priority for improvement’ councils.
Paul Snell today praised the efforts these councils had made to
provide a better service for people locally:
“CSCI has worked closely with a number of councils we considered
to be in particular need of improvement, and I congratulate those
that have gained an extra star this year. These councils have made
essential changes to the way they work and have translated these
changes into better outcomes for people who use services.”
The nine councils that improved sufficiently in 2007 to move out
of this category have:
- improved in service provision, including the quantity and range
of services for carers
- demonstrated a focused commitment of corporate resources on
addressing areas of concern
- improved their financial management and budgeting systems
- strengthened their leadership
- improved planning, commissioning and management processes
- improved working with partners.
CSCI will continue to work with these councils to ensure that
the improvements are sustained.
However, Paul Snell warned:
“CSCI will focus particular attention on the remaining twelve
‘priority for improvement’ councils in the next year, all of which
will need to urgently consider how they can better serve local
people.”
All of the nine councils that improved their performance
sufficiently in 2006-07 to be awarded three stars achieved this
because of their ability to deliver good social care outcomes for
people and their excellent capacity to improve. For example, people
in such areas can expect:
- good intermediate care services which prevent unnecessary
hospital admissions
- timely provision of equipment and adaptations to help promote
their independence and ability to remain at home
- support for carers that enables them to continue caring and
supports their return to work
Today’s Star Ratings have also revealed managerial and
organisational characteristics which distinguish three star
councils. These include:
- strong management and leadership and a political commitment to
social care
- engagement with the local care market
- robust financial management.
Paul Snell added: “The improvement outlined today relates to
social care provided to those people who meet local councils’
eligibility criteria. Our next State of Social Care report, to be
published this coming January, will say more about the experiences
of people who are currently not eligible, and so present a more
complete picture of social care across the country.”
CSCI today also published its Performance Assessment Framework
(PAF) Indicators for adults in 2006-07. These show that:
- more adults and older people are receiving direct payments; in
the last four years there has been an increase from 23 to 103 per
100,000 people; 40,600 adults and older people were receiving
direct payments at the end of March, compared to 32,000 at 31 March
2006, an increase of 27%
- the number of carers receiving direct payments has also
increased from 5,435 to 7,728; 178,000 carers received a service
which meets their specific needs, up from 142,000 in 2005-06.
- 2.1 million items of equipment were delivered by councils in
2006-07; 90% of items and minor adaptations were delivered within
seven days in 2006-07, compared with 77% in 2003-04.
Ends
Notes to editors
- The CSCI is the single inspectorate for social care in England,
responsible for regulating and inspecting all social care providers
- whether in the public or independent sector, and for assessing
the performance of local councils in delivering their personal
social services functions.
- The Commission’s primary aim is to improve social care by
putting the needs of people who use care services first.
- The Commission is chaired by Dame Denise Platt DBE and has five
Commissioners. The Chief Inspector is Paul Snell. CSCI staff work
across seven regions in England – aligned with the government
offices of the regions.
- Printed copies of the Performance ratings for Adult Social
Services in England 2007 can be obtained from the CSCI press office
on 020 7979 2094 or 2093, or can be viewed on the council star ratings home page. In addition, CD
versions of the Adult Social Services Performance Assessment
Framework Indicators 2006 – 2007 and individual council performance
reports can also be obtained from the press office, or can be
viewed on the Commission’s website: go to www.csci.org.uk/professional