The adult social care services provided by the Isle of Wight Council have been awarded a three-out-of-three star rating.

The service has been rated ‘excellent’ for leadership and use of resources and has also been judged to have ‘excellent’ prospects for further improvement by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI), the Government body which regulates, inspects and reviews all adult social care services in the public, private and voluntary sectors in England.

Previously the Island had been rated at two out of three stars with only ‘promising’ prospects for improvement.

Among key strengths identified by CSCI following their recent inspection were the council’s innovative free homecare for the over 80s scheme, the development of the information prescription service that enables individuals to access information that meets their individual needs and improved access to direct payments across all user groups.

The review also identified timely access to assessments, careful management of discharge from hospital to help ease bed-blocking pressures as well as ensuring older people did not remain in hospital longer than clinically necessary and increased numbers of older people having access to telephone services to assist them in maintaining independence.

People from learning difficulties benefited from services including a good level of support enabling them to live at home, improved access to speech therapy and a review of the needs of all adults to identify how personal planning assisted in less restrictive living environments.

The CSCI inspection also found a number of strengths in mental health provision including the assistance given to residents in gaining and maintaining employment or voluntary work and the review of day services that had led to a greater use of community based resources.

Facilities for carers were also highlighted as strengths.
A number of key areas for development were also identified and will be addressed.

The inspection result was welcomed by Sarah Mitchell, IW Council’s director of community services.

“This is a tremendous achievement and testimony to all the hard work undertaken daily by everyone involved in providing social care for adult services on the Island  whether that is the council or those contributing to the strong partnership that exists between the authority and other health and social care providers and the voluntary sector.

“While it is the council that has been given the rating, it is important to remember that this rating reflects the care that is being received by our residents. I am delighted that those people are receiving a three-out-of three star service.

“The challenge for us now is to ensure that we continue to improve services across adult services.”

Cllr Dawn Cousins, IW Council cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said:

“This is fantastic news for all staff throughout the service who have worked so hard in recent years to improve our rating.

“Such an improvement cannot be achieved without the professionalism of people throughout the service and I would like to thank everyone up to the director of community services for the dedication and hard work in ensuring some of our most vulnerable residents receive the support they need.”

Cllr Cousins added:

“I know we will continue to seek bold solutions to providing first-class personalised social care to our residents.”

“Crucial to this three-star rating has been the innovative approach to improving the service we offer through schemes such as the free homecare and the help and care scheme.

“I know we will continue to seek bold solutions to providing first class personalised social care to our residents.”