Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Adult Services

Forward Plan Ref: 2009/100

Contact: John Jackson, Director of Social & Community Services Tel: (01865)

323572, Steve Thomas, Performance Information Manager Tel:

(01865) 323609

Report by Director for Social & Community Services

There  will be a presentation from the Care Quality

Commission on their recent Independence, Wellbeing and choice inspection of social care services.

Sue Talbot from the Care Quality Commission presented the findings of the recent Independence, Wellbeing and Choice Inspection of social care services.

Mrs Talbot outlined the role of the Commission as the independent regulator of all health and adult social care in England making sure that high quality health and social care was provided for everyone, whether that’s in hospital, in care homes, in people’s own homes, or elsewhere.

The Commission concluded that with regard to;

Safeguarding adults

Oxfordshire was performing adequately.

Improving health and wellbeing for older people

Oxfordshire was performing well.

Increased choice and control for older people

Oxfordshire was performing well.

Capacity to improve

Promising.

The Lead Inspector and Area Manager would now jointly monitor progress over the coming months with a formal review of progress against the action plan scheduled for 6 months (mid April).  Interim reports of progress would also be shared.

Also attending were three members of the Adult services Scrutiny Committee - Councillor Seale (Chairman), Councillor Skolar and Councillor Hannaby.

Councillor Seale asked what Oxfordshire could do to ensure that the authority was moving in the right direction particularly as the numbers of safeguarded people was increasing.

Mrs Talbot advised that Oxfordshire had the key building blocks in place and that would be important in taking performance forward. She suggested the need to address duplication levels.

Recognising that partnership working was the way forward Councillor Skolar suggested that as Oxfordshire was the lead authority in the region it would be difficult take that any further forward.

Mrs Talbot suggested the need to assess gaps regarding safe discharge of patients.

Councillor Hannaby mentioned the importance of adequate monitoring

The Director for Social & Community Services felt the inspection had been very useful with a sound methodology which would help drive Oxfordshire’s performance forward. Oxfordshire now needed to plan to improve services based on this report and its recommendations.    

Congratulating County Council staff on their work Councillor Chapman highlighted the importance of monitoring progress and proposed that the report be noted with a further report on the formal review of progress to be submitted to the Cabinet in 6 months.