Action plan to boost social services

An action plan has been drawn up for Walsall's struggling social service department – after it was labelled among the worst in the region in a national report.

The local authority retained its lowly one star rating in the recent Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI), who judged it to be "adequate".

But department bosses at Walsall Council, who previously admitted they were "disappointed" with the rating, today claimed the service was steadily improving and was set for success in 2009.

Councillor Barbara McCracken, cabinet member for health and social care, pointed out the report from CSCI said service was showing "promising capacity for improvement".

She said details of the new action plan would be discussed a cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

"Fantastic steps forward have been made in this area over the last 12 months and it is very encouraging to see that another action plan has been put in place for 2009 to ensure that the service continues to improve," she said.

"Walsall Council is committed to providing excellent care for people and we have come along way in the last few years."

The social services watchdog CSCI grades its findings by giving councils ratings from zero through to three stars.

Councillor McCracken pointed out its report last November had also said the council had increased provision and further planned developments of extra care housing, had helped more people to live at home and has strengthened its partnership work with other agencies to improve a range of services.

The new report to cabinet members states that due to the effective delivery of the improvement plan and the service's measured performance during 2008, a plan was not obligatory in 2009. But in a bid to show continued development to the service, a plan has been produced with the aim of reporting ongoing progress.

The CSCI inspected quality of services, cost and efficiency, the effectiveness of services and capacity for improvement.