Pembrokeshire latest Welsh authority to receive poor review

Pembrokeshire council has become the latest Welsh local
authority to receive a poor rating for its social services
department from the joint review team, writes Anabel
Unity Sale.

The report by the Audit Commission in Wales and the Social
Services Inspectorate in Wales found that Pembrokeshire’s
social services served some people well, but its prospects for
future improvements were uncertain.

It says the council’s day care services were not well
targeted at those most in need and many assessments and plans seen
by the team were of poor quality and lacked user focus.

The joint reviewers said they were most concerned about
Pembrokeshire’s adult assessment and care management team
that deals with older and disabled people, which had 54 unallocated
cases. The team also found referrals were not being screened
effectively; there were 76 outstanding care reviews and 240 overdue
reviews of people in residential care.

Pembrokeshire’s children’s services also had 94
children with disabilities who had never had their needs assessed,
but were receiving respite care or help from a childcare support
worker. Despite this, the service recognised it had problems and
action was being pursued to tackle them.

Joint reviews assistant director Sue Mead said: “There are some
good social services in Pembrokeshire that support service users
well, but also problems in people getting access to that help in a
timely, organised way.” She added that the review should help the
local authority shape its priorities for social care.

Maurice Hughes, leader of Pembrokeshire council, said the
authority had used the report’s recommendations to develop an
action plan to improve services.