To receive and consider the Care Inspectorate Wales report on Adult Services (attached). A report on the Council’s response will follow.
Minutes:
Council debated the CIW inspection report on Adult Services in Powys. While CIW had seen evidence that some people received good care and support, high staff morale and a commitment to improving services accompanied by an increase in resources, the report had identified significant concerns in key areas: accessing services; consistent assessments; unacceptable backlog of safeguarding work at screening and enquiry stages; safeguarding systems, delays in providing the services set out in care and support plans; and performance management. The inspectors had concluded that substantial improvements were required.
The Leader and Portfolio Holder for Adult Services accepted the findings of the report. They explained that following the critical report into Children’s Services, Adult Services had conducted its own self-assessment, the findings of which closely aligned with those of the inspectors. By the time of the inspection, work was already well underway to develop an improvement plan with Adult Services being added to the work programme of the Improvement and Assurance Board. The Leader and Portfolio Holder acknowledged the support received from Welsh Government and the WLGA and the work of Scrutiny. The Portfolio Holder considered that the service was well placed to improve and noted that for the first time in 18 months there was a full leadership team in place.
The Director of Social Services outlined the actions taken in response to the CIW recommendations. Of the sixteen recommendations, six were immediate priorities and ten had to be addressed within 12 months.
A number of members expressed concerns that lessons had not been learned from previous inspection reports. Several were critical of the Powys People Direct call centre and cited examples of people having to wait 20 minutes for their calls to be answered and over 40% of calls lost.
The Portfolio Holder for Adult Services acknowledged that there had been failings in the service and he apologised for those failings. He stressed the importance of council as a whole accepting responsibility and accepting the recommendations in the report. He moved the recommendations, seconded by the Leader.
Recommendation 1: by 57 votes to 0 it was
RESOLVED |
Reason for Decision: |
1. Council notes the contents of the Adult Services Inspection Report and accepts the recommendations made. |
To ensure good governance and to comply with the recommendations of Care Inspectorate Wales. |
Recommendation 2: by 56 votes to 0 it was
RESOLVED |
Reason for Decision: |
2. Council notes the work that has been put in hand to address the Inspectorate’s concerns and the arrangements in place to respond to the recommendations in the report. |
To ensure good governance and to comply with the recommendations of Care Inspectorate Wales. |
County Councillor Huw Williams moved that: work to improve the service must be accountable to all elected members and subject to ongoing scrutiny and debate at future council meetings. This was seconded by County Councillor David Thomas.
By 37 votes to 19 it was
RESOLVED |
Reason for Decision |
That work to improve the service must be accountable to all elected members and subject to ongoing scrutiny and debate at future council meetings. |
In line with the recommendation of the CIW report. |
County Councillor John Morris moved that: Audit Committee and Finance Scrutiny Panel receive accurate and timely financial information on the spend in Adult Social Care when requested by them. This was seconded by County Councillor Roger Williams.
By 43 votes to 11 it was
RESOLVED |
Reason for Decision |
That Audit Committee and Finance Scrutiny Panel receive accurate and timely financial information on the spend in Adult Social Care when requested by them.
|
To enable timely scrutiny. |
Council adjourned from 12.02 to 12.16. County Councillors G. Price, T Van-Rees and H Williams left the meeting.
Supporting documents: