Services for older people strong scores

Services for older people in Bridgend County Borough have achieved positive results as part of a recent joint inspection.

Inspectors from Care Inspectorate Wales and Health Inspectorate Wales explored how the council and its partners are promoting independence among older adults and are preventing their needs and problems from escalating.

They found that good progress is being made and that services have strongly-embedded procedures and approaches, with evidence of early intervention and ’significant and successful efforts’ to focus upon the best interests of the individual as well as the outcome.

Inspectors said that with strong engagement in place to help guide service development, people feel that they are being listened to and heard, and that feedback from staff is positive and demonstrates a strong commitment to their roles.

A good range of community groups for older people is available, and integrated health and social care services are benefitting from quick decision-making and a joined-up approach.

The report has also identified areas where improvements can be made. These include ensuring that people can receive support using the Welsh language, simplifying some processes in order to increase the timeliness of support, ensuring that the system for arranging domiciliary care is as efficient as possible, and improving the consistency of how people are directed towards services.

This report demonstrates a visible commitment towards integrated working for the benefit of the people of Bridgend County Borough, and I’d like to thank council staff and our partners for their ongoing hard work and dedication.

The report highlights a number of successes as well as areas where further improvements can be made. As many of these had already been identified by the council, I’m pleased to confirm that work is underway and progress is being made on developing them further.

As part of the ongoing transformation and development of social services in Bridgend County Borough, the council will also be organising a series of engagement events later this year where we will ask stakeholders to help us shape a new five-year plan for how future services will be delivered.

Councillor Phil White, Cabinet Member for Social Services and Early Help