Issue - meetings

To consider the report to Cabinet on the Care Quality Commission’s assessment of adult social care services in Cheshire East.

The committee was invited to consider the report to Cabinet on 18 January on the Care Quality Commission’s assessment of adult social care services in Cheshire East covering the period April 2009 to March 2010. This would be the last report by CQC in this format, as assessments were moving to a more outcomes and improvement focus in the future. The Government had published an “Outcomes Framework” last November as the basis for the new approach.

Lucia Scally reported to committee on the main outcomes, which scored the Council positively as “performing well” across the seven areas covered by the assessment.

After consideration of the report the following points were raised:

      Concern over problems in dealing with mental health referrals, only half of which were completed. This was partly due to incompatibilities between the Council’s PARIS and the ICT systems operated by mental health services, and assurances were needed that this will improve.

      The Report from the Care Quality Commission commented very favourably on the Council’s key strengths, particularly in areas of safeguarding dignity and respect and that the section entitled “areas for improvement” set out clearly the main issues which the Council and it’s Partners would have to address in the following year.

      That there needs to be improvement in the way services are integrated across authorities, especially in relation to information and communication.

      In terms of “Areas for Improvement” it would be beneficial if the committee could have future reports on progress. Members also felt that a development event on this subject would be beneficial.

RESOLVED: That the Report be received, and a further Report be made in due course on progress with the areas for improvement and the new outcomes framework.