Services for vulnerable adults keep on improving

2.10.00pm GMT Wed 13th Dec 2006

FOR the fourth year running Milton Keynes Council's Adult Social Care Services has received a good two star rating.

The Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) have judged the adult social care are "Serving most people well, with promising capacity for improvement".

The CSCI report says:

• Overall, the council has maintained and improved on its previous year's performance. Particular improvements include waiting times for care packages and clients receiving a review.

• The council has continued to implement its objectives of supporting independence and enabling people to remain in their own homes for longer, and these objectives are fully supported by the whole council as part of its corporate objectives.

• Partnership working is a particular strength of the council, and has enabled the development of new schemes such as the ExtraCare housing complex.

Adult social care has steadily improved over the last four years. It now has six performance indicators scoring in the highest category and only one that is below average. The council is committed to continuing its recognised strong partnership working with Milton Keynes Primary Care Trust to deliver the modern services set out in the recent Dept. of Health White Paper: 'Our health, our care, our say', including providing more direct payments so that people can organise their own care.

Cllr Irene Henderson, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, said: "This is excellent news and yet another example of solid, realistic improvement in our services for some of the most vulnerable members of the community.

"The report carries many good points, but we were particularly pleased that our drive to help older people become more independent, and our work with partners, such as those in health, without whom our job would be very difficult indeed, has been recognised."