Encouraging News For Council's Disability Service

10.32.35pm GMT Wed 16th Feb 2005

Support services for disabled people and their carers in Milton Keynes have received an encouraging verdict from a national watchdog.

The high quality and 'tailor-made' nature of care for individuals and close working with disabled people and their carers were just two of the highlights recognised by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI).

The inspectors visited Milton Keynes last year, speaking to disabled people and their carers to get a detailed picture of the services offered locally.

Their overall verdict was that Milton Keynes Council is "serving some people well, with promising prospects".

Councillor Irene Henderson, Liberal Democrat Cabinet Member for Social Care, said: "This is a really encouraging report and shows that we are definitely heading in the right direction in the way we work with disabled people and their carers in Milton Keynes.

"It is important that the inspectors noted how we involved disabled people and their carers in helping us to know what they need.

"There are areas that the inspectors have highlighted that we'll be looking at but, overall, it is a very positive picture."

The inspectors have recommended that the Council needs to continue to improve its services to carers, to improve transport services and to develop a clear commissioning strategy for people with physical disabilities.

There is a need to establish consultation processes with current and future users of services, and to improve the employment and retention of disabled people in the Council's workforce.

The Council has developed an action plan to take forward the recommendations from the inspection.

The report can be viewed on the Council's and the CSCI website (http://www.csci.org.uk) and is also available in local libraries.