News

South Gloucestershire Council was praised by the Audit Commission and Social Services Inspectorate this week for "notable improvements" in its children's services, including child protection reviews and reviews of looked-after children.

But the Joint Review highlights other areas in need of attention, including mental health and learning difficulties services and joint-working arrangements.

"There are gaps in services across the authority and users experienced difficulties in knowing how to gain access to services. Although the authority introduced care management into community care services in November 1997, too many service users are still not care managed," says the report.

The report cites the council's priority for action as improving the quality of services available to local people, in particular by checking its screening activities and access thresholds and by meeting the needs of the black and minority ethnic residents.

"The authority must work with partners in education and health in developing and adopting a more consistent approach towards planning for the transition of disabled children into adult services," the report adds.

Social services director Bill Robbins said the council had a special action plan to deal with the recommendations, focusing on improvements to practice and action to achieve greater partnership working with other agencies.