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30 Nov 06Top Marks For Poole's Adult Social Services
Poole’s Adult Social Services team has been awarded top marks for delivering social services to people in Poole, meaning they are rated as ‘serving most people well with excellent capacity for improvement’.
The Borough of Poole has been recognised as a top performer by the Commission for Social Care Inspectorate 
(CSCI), with the maximum 3 star rating. The ratings range from zero to three stars and are designed to inform local people about how well their council is doing in providing social care for adults.
Cllr Elaine Atkinson, Portfolio Holder for Community Services said: “We are delighted to have received three stars. This recognises the positive aspects of the service we provide including: strong leadership, caring and hard working staff, good team work and strong partnerships with health, voluntary, private sector organisations and users and carers. Support from Councillors and colleagues have made it possible for Adult Social Services to achieve such a good result.”
Improvements have been recognised in a number of areas, in particular the Direct Payments Scheme was highlighted. This offers people receiving support from social services the option of having money provided to them to buy their own services. This means they can choose exactly what help they want, when they want it and who they want helping them.
Other areas recognised by the CSCI for improvements made included; clarity about future developments and good partnership working.
An example of the work being done comes from Poole resident, Mrs Joan Kirby, who has received help and advice from the Occupational Therapy service. They have provided her with some equipment to maintain her independence at home and enable her to continue doing things she enjoys.
Mrs Kirby said: “It’s a pleasure to have a bath now and the perching stool provided by Social Services has made such a difference to my cooking, which I love doing. I’m really grateful for all their help.”
Jan Thurgood, Strategic Director for Adult Social Services, said: “A priority for the Borough of Poole has always been to provide good quality adult social care services for people in Poole and the three star rating is an external validation of the quality of services and of the hard work and dedication of all involved.”
The Borough of Poole’s priority is to help older people maintain their independence and, where possible, allow them to remain living at home. Out of all the local authorities in the South West region, the Borough of Poole has the highest proportion of older people living
in their own home and the highest proportion of people with learning disabilities employed in region.
Lisa Gaskell, Communications, Borough of Poole, Tel: 01202 633060
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