Star ratings: Councils’ reactions to their performance

Bolton Council

• Three stars. Rated as excellent on safeguarding following inspection this year.

Executive member for adult social care and health, Madeline Murray, said: “We’re delighted with these findings as inspectors didn’t just look how we perform on paper but met with local people and their carers to find out about how services are delivered in the borough.”

Brent Council

• Maintained two stars.

Reg Colwill, lead member for adults, health and social care, said: “The inspectors have found that residents in Brent who need care and support are getting a good service and we hope to keep up the high standards which have been set. I would like to congratulate all the staff who have worked so hard.”

Camden Council

• Three stars for fourth year running.

Martin Davies, executive member, adult social care and health, said: “This is the reward for the hard work by our staff to make sure residents receive the best possible care, and shows we have maintained our standards for the fourth year running. It is important now to build on these great results and ensure we continue to provide excellent services to our residents.”

Hackney Council

• Two stars. Good or excellent on all outcomes.

Nargis Khan, cabinet member for community services, said: “I am delighted that the council delivers good quality adult social care services for residents – we are committed to continuing improvement, and working with service users and partners to ensure the development of what matters most.”

Kent Council

• Three stars for seventh consecutive time.

Managing director of adult social services, Oliver Mills, said: “Every year there are more older people and more disabled people in Kent who need support. This is increasingly difficult to manage within the financial limits set for local government , but Kent adult social services staff, working with their colleagues in the NHS and the independent sector, continue to do their utmost to make sure the people of Kent experience high quality care and support.”

Liverpool Council

• Two stars. Rated good or excellent on all outcomes.

Ron Gould, Liverpool’s executive member for health, care and safeguarding, said: “We are providing care to more people than we have ever done before, and, crucially, it is of a higher standard than ever before. The strong co-operation with our partners in the primary care trust is enabling us to commission joint services which meet the needs of local people and avoids duplication and confusion.”

Newham Council

• Two stars, up from one.

Joy Laguda, executive member for older people, said: “We know we had weaknesses and a lot of hard work has gone into addressing these issues. We’ve improved in key areas: our record keeping has got better which means that our records are more reliable, properly maintained and regularly audited.”

Staffordshire Council

• Two stars.

Eric Robinson, corporate director of social care and health, said: “What we’ve tried to do better this year is look at the type of services people actually need and listen to what they want. Traditionally, we’ve always tried to match people to the services we already provide, instead of listening to the things they want and helping them choose the life they want to live.”

Stoke-on-Trent Council

• Two stars, up from one star.

Jean Bowers, portfolio holder for adult social care, health and communities, said: “It reflects the giant strides we have made to modernise services. It has been a difficult and long process to achieve this success and many tough decisions have been made. Adult social care is a priority for this authority and investment has been made in developing staff and infrastructure.”

Sutton Council

• Two stars. Rated good or excellent on all outcomes

Colin Stears, executive member for adult social services, said: “The report recognises the significant and continued improvement made in performance over recent years and the improved outcomes being experienced by Sutton’s vulnerable adults. There are also key areas for development.”

Telford & Wrekin Council

• Three stars retained.

Richard Webb, corporate director for adult and consumer care, said: “We will continue to improve our services, building on what we have achieved.  We should also not forget that what we do is only a part of the story. Apart from all the other organisations with which we work, I want to pay tribute to the families, friends and carers of people who seek our support. They are the unsung heroes in our community.”

Tower Hamlets Council

• Three stars for fifth consecutive year.

Lead member for health and wellbeing Anwara Ali said: “This is a reflection of both the hard work of staff and our strong partnerships with the health sector and local voluntary organisations. It’s also the result of the excellent relationships we’ve fostered with local people, who help us shape the services they receive.”

Westminster Council

• Three stars. Excellent ratings in all areas bar one.

Ed Argar, cabinet member for health and adult social services, said: “We are delighted that once again Westminster’s adults services department has been rated as one of the very best in the country. This is a fantastic achievement and a pat on the back for all the hard-working staff in the department. Getting three stars is a tribute to the priority given by the council to adult social care in Westminster.”

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