Adult social care service rated 'good' by watchdog
City of Wolverhampton CouncilWolverhampton's adult social care services have been rated "good" by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
The latest assessment, published on Friday, found the service supported people to live healthier lives and praised safeguarding, partnerships and communities, governance and management.
Inspectors said many residents reported positive experiences of care, highlighting strong relationships with staff and support tailored to individual needs, although "others highlighted delays, communication issues and inconsistencies in service provision"
Councillor Linda Leach, cabinet member for adults, said the authority was committed to making more improvements.
"We have already identified where we need to go further and are taking action to strengthen support, improve access and ensure everyone receives consistent, high-quality care," she added.
Residents also praised reablement and intermediate care services, which are designed to help people regain independence following illness or a hospital stay.
The CQC noted positive feedback about the city's carers team and safeguarding services.
People involved in safeguarding inquiries said they felt listened to and supported by staff, who were described as respectful and responsive.
'Staff should be pleased'
Inspectors also highlighted strong collaboration between agencies, with lessons from safeguarding cases being shared effectively to improve services.
But they said there was a need to improve the experiences of carers.
While there was "positive recognition for the carers team", the report said there were "limitations" in accessing respite and good quality care options and experiences of inconsistent communication.
Chris Badger, the CQC's chief inspector of adult social care and integrated care, said the authority had created "a positive culture of continuous learning and improvement".
He said leaders regularly gathered feedback from service users, carers, staff and partner organisations to help improve services and were supporting workforce development through training and career progression opportunities.
"Leaders and staff at Wolverhampton should be pleased with the positive findings in this report," Badger added.
"They are aware of areas where improvements are needed and already had many plans in place to address these. We look forward to seeing how these plans progress."
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