North Somerset Council Rated as ‘Requires Improvement’ by Health Inspectors

Source: BBC

Overview of the Care Quality Commission’s Findings

In a recent report, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has rated North Somerset Council as “requires improvement” in its delivery of adult social care services. This assessment sheds light on the challenges the council faces in fulfilling its responsibilities under the Care Act 2014, a framework designed to ensure that individuals have access to necessary support and care.

Details of the Assessment

The CQC’s review highlighted nine key areas across four themes to evaluate how effectively the council is meeting the needs of its community. The ratings for each area revealed a mix of strengths and weaknesses:

• The council was rated 2 out of 4 for assessing people’s needs, indicating some significant shortfalls.
• In contrast, it scored 3 out of 4 for governance, management, and sustainability, suggesting a relatively solid structure in place.

Statements from Council Officials

Roger Whitfield, the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Services at North Somerset Council, acknowledged the findings of the report. He emphasized that while they had already implemented several improvements by the time of the CQC’s visit last December, these changes were still in their early stages:

“Our changes were too early in their development to demonstrate a sustained improvement,” he remarked, clarifying that their score of 59% fell just short of the 63% required for a “good” rating.

Future Directions for Improvement

James Bullion, CQC’s chief inspector of adult social care and integrated care, noted that the leadership at North Somerset Council clearly understood the challenges their community faced. This understanding forms a strong foundation upon which the council can build moving forward:

“North Somerset Council has built a good foundation and must now focus on addressing these shortfalls,” Bullion stated. His comments reflect a commitment to continuing oversight and support from the CQC as they monitor the council’s progress.

Next Steps for North Somerset Council

Moving ahead, North Somerset Council is expected to focus on:

• Improving assessments of people’s needs.
• Enhancing governance structures.
• Implementing strategies that effectively respond to the needs of residents.

The council has expressed its determination to meet the CQC’s standards and make the necessary changes to ensure the wellbeing of its community members.

Public Concerns and Community Feedback

As the CQC report fosters increased scrutiny, community members are expected to remain vocal about their experiences with local social care services. It will be crucial for the council to engage with residents and address any additional concerns that may arise during this process. Feedback from the public will be instrumental in ensuring that all voices are heard and that the path towards improvement is aligned with community expectations.

Keep Updated with Local News

For those interested in following further developments regarding North Somerset Council and other regional matters, residents are encouraged to stay tuned to local news outlets. You can listen to the latest news for Somerset through BBC platforms and share your story ideas via WhatsApp.

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North Somerset, Care Quality Commission, CQC, adult social care, health inspectors, local council, social care services, community support, governance, improvement strategies