The Care Quality Commission (CQC), has rated Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council as good, in how well they are meeting their responsibilities to ensure people have access to adult social care and support under the Care Act (2014).
CQC has a new duty under the Act to assess how local authorities work with their communities and partners to meet their responsibilities. This includes promoting the wellbeing and independence of working age disabled adults, older people, and their unpaid carers to reduce their need for formal support where appropriate. Where support is needed it should provide people with choice and control of how their care needs are met.
CQC looked at nine areas spread across four themes to assess how well the authority is meeting their responsibilities in order to create their good rating. CQC has given each of these nine areas a score out of four with one being the evidence shows significant shortfalls, and four showing an exceptional standard.
- assessing people’s needs: 2
- supporting people to lead healthier lives: 3
- equity in experience and outcomes: 2
- care provision, integration and continuity of care: 3
- partnership and communities: 3
- safe pathways, systems and transitions: 2
- safeguarding: 3
- governance, management and sustainability: 3
- learning, improvement and innovation: 2
Chris Badger, CQC’s chief inspector of adult social care and integrated care, said:
“At our assessment of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, we found people had access to good, person-centred adult social care services. Leaders recognised the challenges the local population faced, and they had a strong commitment to addressing these to improve people’s health and wellbeing.
“For example, we saw the authority working effectively with partners to improve timely hospital discharges for people, and their work around falls prevention had reduced the number of falls people were having. The success of this work was recognised in community awards.
“There was also a timeout service which provided free short-term respite for unpaid carers, and it aimed to delay or reduce carers’ needs for more support. Carers who used this service really valued it and felt it supported them in their caring role.
“We heard that staff and leaders were aware of safeguarding risks to people when transitioning from children’s to adults’ services, such as homelessness and exploitation. There was limited suitable housing options available for young people who required adult support, as well as people with complex care needs. However, the local authority was working with partners to address these risks.
“Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council should be pleased with the many positive findings in our report and are already building on this with further improvement plans. We look forward to returning to see how they have built on these areas of good practice and how their plans mature.”
The assessment team found:
- People could access equipment and minor home adaptations in a timely way to maintain their independence and continue living in their own homes.
- The local authority worked with partners and local communities to provide services to promote independence. These included community courses to improve skills such as cooking and providing information about finances to help people stay independent.
- Staff supported people into education and employment.
- People with lived experience of using care services were being included in shaping current and future care and support needs for people. This helped the local authority have a clear understanding of people’s requirements.
- People could easily access direct payments, and the local authority had a dedicated team for people to contact for any information and support.
- The local authority worked with people through its ‘Powering our Futures’ programme to understand people's needs, such as support for young people moving to adult support services.
However: the assessment team also found:
- People’s assessments and reviews weren’t always up to date. The local authority was taking steps to ensure these are updated so people receive the care they need.
- Black Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities were less able to access information and advice due to cultural and language barriers.