Older people in Islington are being well served by the council's social services, say government watchdogs the Commission for Social Care Inspectorate (CSCI).Islington has made ‘significant’ progress since the last review in January 02 and inspectors described the service as serving most people well with promising prospects for future improvement.Meral Ece, executive member for health and social care for adults, says: "I firmly believe that our methods of working and partnerships with other organisations has vastly improved the services we offer older people. So I’m delighted we received such a positive report from CSCI. However we won’t be becoming complacent as we are determined to continually strive to make further improvements. I would like to thank all staff and colleagues who have worked so hard for such a positive result.”Islington has continued to make improvements to social care services for older people since the Joint Review report in January 2002. The inspection highlighted our strengths in partnership working with the health service through Islington Primary Care Trust and other partners in the voluntary and independent sector. Strengths highlighted in the report include:·older people are generally positive about the services they are receiving·Islington social services has reduced the number of people entering residential and nursing homes and increased the number being supported in their own home·Islington social services has developed strong and well-established partnership arrangements with Islington PCT, voluntary and independent sector providers to give older people in Islington a better service ·the partnership working between social services, the PCT and hospital trusts is allowing people to leave hospital sooner because organisations are working together more effectively to plan what happens when an older person is discharged from hospital ·the home care service has been restructured to meet the needs of people with dementia·work has begun on modernizing day services and the inspectors found an improving range of services for older people and their carers·Islington social services is developing a new kind of culture focusing on the individual and what they want as well as offering more choices and promoting independence·consultation and involvement of older people and carers is improving particularly with the organizations representing these groups·Islington social services have a strong and competent senior management team which is providing clear leadership and vision for the department and is supported by a clear lead from councillorsPart of a country-wide assessment of social services, the joint review process consults service users, carers and other interested organisations. Its aim is not only to highlight areas where the department is performing well, but also to indicate where improvements can be made so all older people and carers receive the same high standards of care.An action plan has been drawn up in response to the review team's findings and in recognition of the work that still needs to be done. It aims to ensure that older people who need help receive a consistently good service. This reinforces the council’s commitment to improving services for older people and their carers and ensuring the protection of the most vulnerable in our community. The plan includes:·developing better partnership arrangements with voluntary sector organizations that provide support and services to black and minority ethnic older people and their carers·ensuring that procedures for protecting vulnerable older people are working well ·improving communication to older people and their carers on waiting times for major adaptations to their homes to allow them to continue living independently ·promoting Direct Payments ·involving voluntary groups representing black and minority ethnic older people and their carers. Ends.Notes for EditorsLaunched in April 2004, the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) is the single inspectorate for social care in England. The Commission combines the work formerly done by the Social Services Inspectorate (SSI), the SSI/Audit Commission Joint Review Team and the National Care Standards Commission. The CSCI review team carried out their inspection of Islington social care services for older people in September 2004.The purpose of the review is to see how well older people in Islington are served by their social services and to make a constructive contribution to the further improvement of the service provided.From 11/2/02 a copy of their report is available on the council's website www.islington.gov.uk underneath "performance" in the social services section.
Page Last Updated: 29 July 2008