Extra Star for Newham's Adult Services

Newham Council is one of just four boroughs in London to have improved its official rating for Adults Services since last year, the most recent round of national assessments has revealed.

The council saw its rating increase from one to two stars this year, with grades of ‘good’ for delivering outcomes and ‘promising’ for its capacity to improve further.

The rigorous assessments are carried out annually by the Commission for Social Care Inspection. Three stars is the top grade available.

Newham’s report praised the council’s wide range of advice and activities to promote healthy lifestyles, and its push towards providing more care in the community, rather than in hospitals or residential homes.

In further praise, inspectors said the use of residential care for users of all parts of the council’s adults services were low compared to other London boroughs. They also said the council’s telecare and telehealth services were good, and had been praised by a large number of people.

The report said direct payments activity was high and among black and ethnic minority recipients, it had risen by 60 per cent. A survey found 89 per cent of users were happy with the system.

The service helped high numbers of people with learning disabilities to find jobs, training or voluntary work through the council’s First Line service or other initiatives, and these were commended by the Department of Health.

The council’s policy not to charge for community-based social care services was also highlighted, along with its work to help users and carers claim the maximum amount of benefits possible, through the Welfare and Benefits Advice Service.

Newham’s Mayor Sir Robin Wales said: “The verdict is great news for people using these important services, who should be reassured they are receiving ever-improving help and support. We know we are better than last year, but we are not complacent, and there is still work to be done.”

Cllr Joy Laguda, Newham’s executive member for older people, said: “I’m really pleased that the work of adults services has been recognised. We know we had weaknesses and a lot of hard work has gone into addressing these issues.

“We’ve improved in key areas: our record keeping has got better which means they are more reliable, properly maintained and regularly audited. We’re working with our partners to ensure that hospital admissions are avoided as people tell us they prefer to stay at home. We adapt people’s homes so that they can stay safely at home.”

As with all councils, guidance on areas to improve were listed in the report, which Newham Council will take on board as it strives for the top three star rating. These included:
• Addressing the relatively low level of help in the home for people with physical disabilities.
• Increasing the take up of direct payments for people with mental health problems.
• Assisting carers to take extra breaks and reducing the level of staff sickness.

The report noted improvements in the delivery of personalised services in the borough were unsatisfactory in some areas in its 2006/2007 assessment. It said since then action had been taken and the situation had improved, but it reminded the council to keep an eye on independence and outcomes for people using the direct payments system to fund their care.

In their 16-page report, inspectors said the council had improved the way it safeguards vulnerable adults and there were prospects for further improvement by February 2009. This improvement had been confirmed by an external audit.