Carmarthen rapped over service faults

Carmarthenshire Council’s services for adults have been heavily criticised by inspectors.

Waiting lists for some services had “increased significantly” from 2004 to 2005 and not enough people were receiving support to live independently, a Social Services Inspectorate for Wales and Wales Audit Office inspection found.

The rate of assessments of older people per 1,000 of population fell from 112 to 104 in the year to March 2005, compared with a Welsh average of 139, while rates for clients with learning difficulties and mental health problems were also below
average.

There were 139 people waiting for care packages but inspectors said there could be more. There was a gap of 937 between the number assessed as being eligible for a service and those who received it, an anomaly managers could not explain.

Carmarthenshire’s children’s services were praised, although inspectors said services were inconsistent overall and the council’s prospects for improvement were uncertain.

Carmarthenshire’s executive board member for social care, councillor Kevin Madge, said the council needed to modernise to provide a better standard of care.