Poor social care services bounce back with two star award

Rising star: Roger Ellis, Chief Executive; Dale Mulgrew, Cabinet member for Health and Social Care; and Jim Wilson, Interim Director of Adult Social Care announce the two star rating.

Adult Social Care services were slammed by government inspectors a year ago – but now they have bounced back with a glittering report.

The Rochdale Council service has now been awarded two stars out of a possible three by independent inspectors.

Last year, they were downgraded from two stars to one star following a report by the Commission for Social Care Inspection.

But, according to the council, “radical” changes have been made with the appointment of a new Interim Director of Adult Social Care - and with changes to service delivery, focusing on early intervention, and self-directed care.

The report congratulated social care services on their improvements in support for older people, intensive homecare, development and commissioning of services, and helping people with physical disabilities to live at home.

Improvements have also been made in performance management and commissioning and financial planning.

Cabinet member for Health and Social Care, Dale Mulgrew said: "I am delighted with the progress that has been made over the last 12 months, and pleased that this has been recognised by our national watchdog, but I know we have a lot more to do.

“Inspectors say we have promising prospects for improvement and our aim now is to build on the good foundations that are in place to ensure the highest possible quality of care for the most vulnerable people we serve."

Interim Director of Adult Social Care, Jim Wilson, said: "I would like to thank our staff in Adult Care and across the council, as well as partners and the borough's councillors for their work over the last twelve months.

“We have made solid progress and I am pleased that the star rating has improved as this reflects the hard work that our front line staff and managers have put in.

“However, we are not complacent and we know we still have a great deal of work to do to ensure that the very best services are being provided to the people of the borough. We will continue to work together to ensure that services develop and improve."

Overall, the council received a rating of 'good' and CSCI judged the services as having 'promising' capacity to improve further, highlighting strengths in leadership, improved outcomes and more effective partnership working.

Rochdale's Labour Party Candidate, Simon Danczuk claims the award given to Rochdale Council’s Adult Social Services “does not represent progress at all”.

He said: “The reality is that we are back to where we were”.

"They lost a star last year for this service and now - thankfully - they've managed to regain it. 

"But this does not represent progress at all.

“I hope they will now push on and make adult care a service that Rochdale can genuinely be proud of."