Adult social care services in Stoke-on-Trent have been rated GOOD by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
It follows a CQC Assurance assessment carried out earlier this year of how well the city council, working with partners, has ensured people have access to adult social care and support under the Care Act (2014).
In their report published today (Friday, 13 June), CQC inspectors said: “Provision of adult social care was a clear priority within Stoke-on-Trent, and there was a positive energy among staff and members to do the best for people and make Stoke-on-Trent a great place to live and work.
It added: “There was an open culture that embraced challenges and supported people to take risks and try new things. There were clear and accountable leadership and governance arrangements, and everyone knew what was happening across adult social care and were pulling in the same direction to support people in the community.”
It also found that there was trusted leadership and that staff were motivated to deliver.
The assessment focussed on nine areas across four key themes – “Working With People”, “Providing Support”, “How the Local Authority Ensures Safety Within the System” and “Leadership”.
These were assessed against quality statements, with each being scored from 1 (inadequate) to 4 (outstanding). Across the scoring, no service area in Stoke-on-Trent received a 1, with the majority scoring 3 (good).
However, the council has said it will not stand still and will continue to add to the improvements that have already been put into place to help enhance the service for residents – particularly in areas such as assessing needs and helping people lead healthier lives.
Councillor Duncan Walker, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and All Age Commissioning, said: “This is tremendous news for the city and shows a real drive and commitment to deliver safe, effective, caring and responsive services for the people of Stoke-on-Trent.
“Whilst I am so proud of what we have achieved together, we will not rest on our laurels. Our aim is to always strive for continual improvement. So, we will continue to listen and work with the public, staff and partners so that we can continue to develop and improve.”
Around 100 frontline staff from across Adult Social Care and All Age Commissioning were involved in the Assurance process – meeting with inspectors and sharing their experiences of working in Stoke-on-Trent.
The CQC has a new duty under the Care Act to assess how local authorities work with communities and partners to meet their responsibilities. As a result, it was part of the first round of Assurance assessments carried out with local authorities, nationally, in more than a decade.
In their report, CQC inspectors highlighted several key factors. They said that people’s feedback to the Care Act assessment was positive, and carers said they received good early intervention and support.
People had access to information and advice in their communities through the council’s Community Lounges service, which were valued, inspectors said.
Meanwhile, people had a good experience of discharge from hospital and felt supported - and people who used services said they felt safe and felt that the safeguarding process had met their preferred outcomes.
Councillor Jane Ashworth, Leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “The whole Adult Social Care workforce did a fantastic job in demonstrating the pride we have in the city and the services we deliver which make a huge difference to so many members of the community.
“Adult Social Care is, and always will be, a key priority of this authority and we are continuing to strive to deliver the best services we can – listening to residents and shaping services accordingly.”
The CQC report can be read here - www.cqc.org.uk/care-services/local-authority-assessment-reports/stokeontrent-0625
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