The authority says it has ‘already started making the necessary changes’ to ensure people get ‘timely, high-quality care and support’
Adult social care provision by East Riding of Yorkshire Council has been rated as inadequate in a report released today. Assessors for the Care Quality Commission (CQC) scored how the local authority performed in nine different areas, with ‘one’ being the lowest score and ‘four’ being the highest.
It scored a ‘one’ in several areas, including safeguarding, care provision, integration and continuity of care, assessing people’s needs, supporting people to live healthier lives, and governance, management and sustainability. A particular concern raised was the long waiting time for social care assessments.
Chris Badger, CQC’s chief inspector of adult social care and integrated care, said: “When we carried out our assessment of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, we found there had been significant leadership changes over the last few years, which had impacted on people’s access to good adult social care across the county.
“While we saw some dedicated staff delivering person-centred care, too many people were facing unacceptable delays getting the support they needed, which was having a negative effect on their health. Our assessment team heard about people experiencing long waits for assessments, reviews, and equipment, including sensory support. For example, some people had waited two years for white cane training and 45 weeks for grab rails to be installed in their homes.
“During this time, some people with sensory needs deteriorated, and had increased falls which reduced their confidence, and affected their mental wellbeing. Staff told us that they were frustrated and found it challenging trying to find care homes to meet people’s individual needs in the local area.
“One member of staff told us that they contacted over 100 homes and still couldn’t find one that met someone’s needs. However, leaders told us that they are working with partners to try and address these capacity issues, so people receive better timely care.
“Additionally, we found the local authority had limited reablement services available and reviews weren’t always timely due to staff capacity. This meant that people didn’t always have the opportunity to regain their independence after being in hospital, which resulted in them needing more long-term care than what was necessary.
“However, the local authority had a carers support service which was highly regarded by people who used it. We heard that staff were compassionate and a consistent point of contact and support for carers when they needed it.
“We have told leaders at East Riding of Yorkshire Council where they need to improve, and we expect to see rapid and widespread improvements when we return.”
East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s response
The authority said inspectors visited the area in June to review of it supports adults in need of care and support. A spokesperson said: “While no evidence was found to suggest that individuals were unsafe, the inspection highlighted significant concerns – particularly around delays in accessing services and the time people wait for assessments and support.
“We recognise that too many residents are waiting far too long to receive the care they need. This is unacceptable, and we are committed to taking urgent action to improve access and responsiveness across our services.
“An improvement plan is already in place and will be overseen by an independent improvement partner. We will make sure that representatives from our partners, care providers and people who use services and their families with lived experience are heard from and central to our improvement.”
Alan Menzies, interim chief executive of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, added: “We take the findings of this inspection extremely seriously. People in the East Riding deserve timely, high-quality care and support, and we have already started making the necessary changes to ensure this happens.
“While the dedication of our staff is evident and highlighted in this report. We acknowledge as a council we must do better. We are already taking steps to reduce waiting times, strengthen leadership, and improve how we work with individuals to ensure that our care services meet their needs.
“I was reassured to read in the CQC report that our new chief executive of adult social care, Kim Curry, brings stability and is having a significant positive effect on culture, strategy and outcome. Our improvement journey will be shaped by the people who use our services, and we will be open and transparent about our progress.”
The council has informed key partners, including the East Riding Safeguarding Adults Board, of the inspection outcome. The board is led by an independent chair and made up of representatives from several organisations including the council, police, health, care and voluntary sectors and is also responsible for holding partners to account through scrutiny and governance.
Kay Durrant, Independent Chair of the East Riding Safeguarding Adults Board, said: “I have reviewed the inspection report and discussed the council’s response. I am confident that the leadership team is committed to addressing the concerns raised and that the board will support the improvement plan to ensure vulnerable adults are protected and supported.”
The council says key improvements it is working on include:
- Reducing waiting times for assessments and reviews
- Strengthening leadership and management oversight
- Enhancing safeguarding training and quality assurance
- Improving data quality and performance monitoring
- Increasing involvement of service users.
It added that it “acknowledges the growing demand for adult social care services, particularly in our area with a higher proportion of the population aged over 65. While funding pressures remain a challenge, they do not excuse delays or ineffective processes.
“We are committed to delivering meaningful change and ensuring that every resident receives the support they need, when they need it.”