Maidenhead & Windsor

The high priority given to adult social care services in the Maidenhead Royal Borough has been recognised with the retention of two stars in the latest ratings from the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI).

The CSCI assessment says that social care services for adults are serving most people well with promising capacity for improvement and inspectors had particular praise for:

* the way the Maidenhead council is leading the field nationally on the extensive and innovative use of direct payments – where residents are given budgets to pay for their own individual care needs and
* the impressive and ambitious 'bricks and mortar' reprovisioning programme in conjunction with housing associations – for example, the new Clara Court in Maidenhead and the planned residential home and day centre for older people in Windsor – all achieved through the re-use of capital assets and without any new capital spend.

The CSCI report, published on Thursday November 30, underlines the Maidenhead council's sustained and further improvement in performance, planning, commissioning and delivery of adult social care – welcomed by lead member Cllr Pam Proctor.

Maidenhead Cllr Proctor said: "Last year we achieved two star status for the first time, having been a no star authority back in 2002, and I am delighted our measured, consistent approach to service delivery is recognised by the CSCI. The council has always made it clear we are not into knee jerk reactions or quick fixes that have no guarantee of long-term sustainability. We want to build robust services that meet our residents' needs and provide good and satisfying career development prospects for our staff.

"This report clearly demonstrates that we are on the right path. Inspectors appreciate our far-sightedness and determination to build adult care services for the future needs of our borough, and not just for the short term. This is a satisfying outcome and a great tribute to all staff who work so hard and show such commitment to the people who depend on them for their care."

The report highlights a range of further strengths including:

* no delayed discharges from hospitals – so no fines
* excellent relationship with partner organisations such as housing associations and the Primary Care Trust
* active partnership boards, including the carers partnership board – where service users and voluntary groups have a say in service policy development
* the recent domiciliary care review that should achieve good results
* extensive training for staff and excellent recruitment and retention performance
* equality and diversity plans in place for each service
* the Bridge that Gap café in the Town Hall, offering work experience to people with learning disabilities.

The report also mentions a number of areas for continued improvement, all of which are already being addressed and will feed into the learning and care directorate's action plans.

Jim Gould, corporate director of Maidenhead learning and care, said he was pleased and encouraged by the confirmation of the Royal Borough's progress and by the CSCI's recognition of innovative work in a number of areas.

He said: "We will always have more work to do and more to achieve. However, it is pleasing to have our continued progress recognised and our staff remain enthusiastic in their commitment to doing their very best for the benefit of borough residents and service users."

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead