Cheshire West and Chester Council rated "good" for adult social care
The Care Quality Commission said improvements had been made
Cheshire West and Chester Council’s adult social care service has received a positive rating following an inspection.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and adult social care in England. During a recent inspection it found the service was ‘good’ overall after examining nine areas across the service, ranging from safeguarding to governance.
Inspectors found a number of areas to be performing well, adding that staff arranged home care and reablement services for people without delay, particularly following a hospital stay. They found that leaders also listened to people, took concerns seriously and used feedback to improve services.
Specialist staff also provided tailored support and ‘clear pathways’ for groups including autistic people, people with learning disabilities or mental health conditions, and people leaving hospital.
But inspectors also found room for improvement, including ‘strained relationships’ with some healthcare providers.
Their report said staff could not always deliver home adaptations promptly following occupational therapy assessments. However, they provided alternative support to meet people’s needs while they waited for adaptations.
The report found that while the authority collaborated closely with some partners to improve people’s experiences, not all partnerships worked well.
Staff told inspectors the authority had strained relationships with some health providers, which sometimes delayed people’s care.
James Bullion, CQC’s chief inspector of adult social care and integrated care, said: “During this inspection, we found Cheshire West and Chester was committed to helping people access support that met their individual needs.
“The local authority had strong leadership underpinning this, as they maintained a consistent focus on learning and development, which improved people’s experiences of accessing care.”
Charlotte Walton, executive director of adult services in Cheshire West and Chester Council, welcomed the report’s findings.
She said: “Adult social care staff work hard in Cheshire West and Chester, they do an excellent job sometimes in difficult circumstances and I would like to thank them for this and am pleased that CQC acknowledged our person-centred approach and how we involve people in their own care, and the strong relationships we build with residents, carers, and partners.”
She added: “The CQC assessment identified areas we know need further improvement, and we are pleased that they have acknowledged all the work we are already doing in these areas.”