Mixed report on services prompts care action plan

8:17am Sunday 18th May 2008

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Independent inspectors have given the borough's adult social care services a "mixed" review following a rigorous inspection earlier this year.

On Monday, Richmond Council's cabinet agreed an action plan to improve adult social care services following the review by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) in January.

Tim Willis, one of the inspectors, attended the meeting to present the report and answer questions from cabinet members and representatives from adult health organisations in the borough.

He said: "The inspection findings are mixed. There are areas of successful performance but also some for development.

"There are some big messages and senior managers have taken them on board."

Inspectors concluded that the delivery of personalised services for older people in the borough was "good", rated the safeguarding of adults as "adequate" and judged the capacity to improve its performance "promising".

But opposition councillors said they were concerned to hear "responses to concerns were not consistently well organised, did not follow inter-agency policies and were poorly monitored by managers" and there was also criticism of quality assurance processes and performance management within the department.

Councillor Denise Carr, Richmond Council's cabinet member for adult services, health and housing, said: "We welcome the CSCI findings and have agreed an action plan that addresses the areas of weakness identified by the report.

"We are absolutely determined to improve performance in those areas and also build on our strengths.

"Our action plan will be closely monitored to ensure that the goals we set are achieved."

Joan Mager, chief executive of Richmond and Twickenham Primary Care Trust, said: "The health and social care needs of vulnerable adults are closely linked and we are pleased that the council has now approved its action plan to further improve adult social services in Richmond upon Thames."