Inspectors voice Lincolnshire doubts

Lincolnshire is developing innovative and
creative models of joint services for older people, but
“considerable work” is needed in a number of key areas, states a
report by the Social Services Inspectorate.

The “significant areas of concern” include
care management documentation and processes, relationships with
private and voluntary providers, and unequal access to services for
various groups of clients.

Despite these concerns the report finds that
most service users are satisfied with the services they received.
But there are doubts over the quality and accessibility of
specialist services for older people with mental health problems.
Services for people with dementia require further development,
states the report.

Timeliness and effectiveness of services were
found to vary across Lincolnshire, with a significant shortage of
occupational therapy services and considerable delays in starting
assessments.

A significant number of service users waited
over a year for home assessments for bathing adaptations, and the
process for approval for home grants to pay for adaptations could
take a year to complete.

The report recommends that a robust approach
to case reviews is developed to monitor the effectiveness of
service provision and ensure that the needs of service users
continue to be met appropriately.