Joint Review Inspection The social services provided by the Local Authority Integrated Children Services and Integrated Adult Services Directorates are currently in the process of being inspected. The inspection will be carried out jointly by the Social Services Inspectorate for Wales (SSIW) and, the Wales Audit Office (WAO) on behalf of the National Assembly for Wales (NAfW) – hence the name ‘Joint Review’.
Over a five year period, all Welsh Authorities will be inspected – now, it is our turn. The reason we are being inspected is to find out how well the public are being served by social services. The reviewers will identify what the authority is doing well and, highlight areas that could be improved.
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The inspection began in June 2006 and will last for a period of 54 weeks. The process has been split into 3 stages known as ‘Phases’.
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Phase 1 – The Broad Review (weeks 1 – 12):
Phase 1 of the process has now begun and will focus on gathering information and evidence over a period of 12 weeks.
During phase 1, the Inspectors will be on site between Monday 20th November and Friday 24th November 2006.
Phase 2 – The Detailed Review (weeks 13 – 26):
Thorough examination and a more detailed assessment of specific areas and issues.
During phase 2 the Inspectors will be with us in Merthyr on the following dates:
12th – 23rd February 2007
12th – 16th March 2007
Phase 3 – Following Through (weeks 31 – 54):
A report is produced by the Joint Review Inspection Team which lists their findings and recommendations for any improvements. The Local Authority will then produce an action plan in response, saying how we will make any changes that are necessary. Finally, the Joint Review Report will published and made available to the public.
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The Joint Review Team will want to answer two key questions:
- How good are the services?
- How well placed is the Authority to sustain and improve performance?
In order to find answers to their questions they will:
- arrange meetings and carry out interviews with service users, carers, our partner organisations and staff;
- gather information from questionnaire surveys;
- visit places where social services are provided;
The inspectors will look at the following areas known as ‘domains’:
1. Access
The Inspectors will be looking at how the authority promotes access to services by all potential service users.
2. Assessment
The Inspectors will be interested in finding out about our assessment arrangements, the systems we use to decide on eligibility and priority, whether assessments are completed within required timescales and whether we are meeting relevant guidance.
3. Care Management and Review
The inspection will take into account how cases are allocated / managed and, that quality care plans are in place.
4. Range of Services Provided
We will be assessed to find out whether the services we provide meet peoples needs, keep them safe and, promote independence and choice.
5. Quality of Services Provided
The Inspectors will be interested to find out about whether we are providing reliable, quality standards of care, how we use comments to further improve services and how we involve service users and carers in planning, choosing and designing the services to be provided.
6. Arrangements to Protect Vulnerable People
We will be assessed to find out how effective our arrangements are for protecting vulnerable people from harm.
7. Success in Promoting independence and social inclusion
The inspection will consider how successful we are at supporting people in the community / family setting in order to live as independently as possible and develop life skills.
8. Workforce
We will be assessed to find out whether we have the right number of experienced, appropriately qualified / trained staff employed to provide quality services.
9. Performance Management
The inspectors will be interested to find out how we manage performance and use the information we collate to ensure quality services are provided.
10. Planning and Partnerships
We will be assessed to find out whether we have effective plans in place and how well we work in partnership with others.
11. Commissioning and Contracting
The inspection will also focus on how well we commission, contract and monitor services to ensure quality and value for money.
12. Resources
As part of the inspection process our arrangements for managing resources including finance and assets will be looked at.
13. Leadership and Culture
The Inspectors will be looking at leadership and how good managers and staff are at meeting their responsibilities for providing quality services.
14. Corporate Political Support and Scrutiny
Inspectors will also be interested in how the Local Authority as a whole works together to help achieve the social services statutory responsibilities and priorities.
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The services you currently receive will not be affected. The inspection will assist us in identifying our strengths and examples of good practice, as well as areas that need improvement. This will provide us with an opportunity to further develop the services we provide to you.
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We aim to keep you up-to-date on progress and important information throughout the whole inspection process. We will do this via:
- Contact community magazine;
- Leaflets;
- Newsletters;
- Local Newspapers;
- Our website (www.merthyr.gov.uk) – You will find information under the heading Social Care and Welfare, Inspections, and, occasionally; via the News and Hot Topics Pages
If you would like more information about the Joint Review Inspection, have any queries, wish to share your comments or ideas on how we can improve our social services, or wish to suggest other ways you would like us to communicate with you; please contact:
Joint Review Project Team (ICS and AFLL),
Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council,
c/o Adults, Families and Lifelong Learning,
Ty Keir Hardie, Riverside Court,
Avenue de Clichy, Merthyr Tydfil, CF47 8XE
The Joint Review Team welcome direct comments from the public:
Information Unit
Social Services Inspectorate for Wales (SSIW)
The National Assembly for Wales
Cathays Park
Cardiff, CF10 3NQ
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