Press Releases
Adult Services from zeros to heroes in three years (PR 1121)
The most elderly and vulnerable in Ealing are benefiting from the fastest improving services in the country according to government inspectors.
Ealing Council has been recognised for its efforts to support the independence of older people and give them greater choice and control over their lives.
The league table shows Ealing is the only council to improve from zero to a maximum three stars in just three years for Adults Services and the department is now rated as one of the best in the country.
The report by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI), which is due to be published on Thursday, 29 November, rates Ealing as an excellent council and awards it the maximum three stars. The rating is in stark contrast to the poor inspection of three years ago where the Council was told its services were poor and must improve.
In its report the CSCI said the Council “has continued to make rapid progress in 2006/07 to improve and modernise its social care services” and “makes an excellent contribution to improving people’s health and sense of well-being”. Inspectors also praised the “strong political and corporate commitment to service improvement and meeting the care needs of vulnerable adults.”
Councillor Ian Green, Cabinet Member for Adult Services, said: “ This is an absolutely fantastic achievement. To go from poor to excellent in just three years is unprecedented. This underlines our commitment to look after the most vulnerable in our society.
“The service has been improved dramatically over the last three years and I’m pleased because this rating recognises the hard work that has gone into turning around a failing service. But most of all I’m delighted for the people of Ealing who will all benefit from the excellent services of the department.”
In particular inspectors were impressed with the Council’s efforts to give people greater choice and independence. One of the Council’s key strategies has been to invest in services that allow older and vulnerable people to live in their own homes, with help from care staff, instead of spending money on residential care.
The Council has also doubled the number of people benefiting from intermediate care, which provides intensive help for people leaving hospital. The aim is to allow people to get their strength, skills and confidence back so they can return home. In the past patients who were well enough to leave hospital but too frail to live alone would often have spent the rest of their lives in a residential home.
New extra care housing schemes, such as Moorlands in Northolt, have been developed to help elderly people and those with special needs to live independently in a supportive environment. People live in their own self-contained flat, but specialist help is on hand 24-hours a day should it be needed.
Ealing has also been one of the pioneers in the use of direct
payments, meaning people can receive money from the council to make
their own nursing and care arrangements.