READING Borough Council has released a statement following its assessment by the Care Quality Commission, which it says “does not accurately evidence” improvements and work carried out by the council.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is a public body of the Department of Health and Social Care which regulates and inspects health and social care providers in England.
A recent CQC assessment, carried out between July and December last year, found that while there were areas of strength in the council’s adult social care provisions, some areas also required improvement.
Nine areas of focus were assessed, including how local authorities provide support, reinforces safety measures, works with other organisations, and its leadership.
In eight out of nine of categories, Reading Borough Council was deemed to need improvement.
The report cited a strong commitment to improve, through “transparent” leadership which employed “visible governance structures and accountability”, which led to staff feeling supported and valued.
It also highlighted “timely and seamless” hospital discharge and reablement services through coordination between the council and the NHS, as well as an “innovative” use of technology to improve assessment.
However the assessment also noted ongoing issues including recruitment, delays in payment and administration, which impacts overall ability for some to manage their own care.
Reading Borough Council reiterated its commitment to improvement, and cited the Adult Social Care Outcomes Framework leaderboards, in which it has been ranked fifth for Quality of Life and twelfth in ease of finding information and support.
Cllr Paul Gittings, lead councillor for Adult Social Care, said: “I remain incredibly proud of the care and support delivered by the Council’s Adult Social Care staff.
“I am pleased to see that the CQC has picked up our commitment to improvement and innovation alongside strong partnerships and co-production with our communities that will ensure we remain responsive and forward-thinking.
“Our service knows its strengths and areas for development very well and has been consistently delivering improvements for residents of Reading such as the delivery of an All-Age Carers Strategy 2024–2027 and our internationally recognised Technology Enabled Care offer.
“However, we believe the report does not accurately evidence the excellent work we do in Reading or provide an accurate description of improvements which have already been made.
“The people in our Adult Social Care service work extremely hard and take pride in the work in supporting the life that matters to our residents.”
