RBK Social Care Inspection Scrutiny

The Scrutiny Panel last night looked at the findings of the recent investigation by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) into our Services for People with Learning Disabilities. Although the report praised the hard work of RBK Officers and the success of some day care initiatives, it was damning when it came to management and communication. There were a total of 18 negative areas addressed by the Inspector, including accusations of the Council not always treating people with respect and one patient waiting for up to 18 months for action to be taken. CSCI were also concerned that RBK does not employ a single person with learning difficulties in a workforce that goes into the thousands.

The report was challenged by the Director of Community Services Roy Taylor and the Lib Dems tried to deflect the Inspector’s criticisms by an extraordinary attack both professionally and personally of the Inspector. Executive Member Cllr Shelton once again gave a lifeless performance at a time when this Directorate needs a strong and commanding defender in the face of a further £3 million of potential cuts in next month’s budget.

The panel made five recommendations that the executive should:

1. Increase Councillor involvement in the Governance of this service

2. Protect funding against further cuts to ensure the improvements can be delivered

3. Develop plans to provide improved faculties

4. Ensure that the Third Sector partners are more involved with solutions to the problems identified and that they have the support from the Council to take on the work we need them to takeover from us

5. That the future monitoring of this services should be undertaken by the Health Overview or a special Councillor driven working group to ensure the 27 recommendations are achieved

Nick Kilby, Shadow Member for Adult Services said:

“This was the toughest inspection our community services team has been subjected to in years. We cannot ignore these findings, 27 action points have been agreed and accepted by officers and this work is now happening. The future of these services can only be improved by the Lib Dems ring fencing the finance, ensuring that the officers have enough support for the changes they are making, progress without delay the redevelopment of existing faculties and vitally make sure that the relationship between us and the Voluntary sector is genuine in engagement and that we support them sufficiently when we ask them to take on services for us.

We all know that our community services team, under Roy Taylor deliver outstanding service for our residents, often ground breaking in their innovation, but last night we had a wake up call of what could happen if we don’t appreciate the effects that reorganisation, budget cuts and lack of resources can have on these services.”