Adult social care just "adequate"

12.53.00pm GMT Wed 29th Oct 2008

Surrey residents are currently being short-changed

Closely behind the disastrous inspection of its Children's Services, the County Council has now received criticism of its adult social services from CSCI (Commission for Social Care Inspection). As a result, the Liberal Democrats on Surrey County Council are demanding improvements.

Their inspection report of Surrey's adult social care was published in October. This rates council performance using four grades - poor, adequate, good and excellent. CSCI concluded that the County Council's performance was only adequate under each of the four headings.

CSCI also rates council capacity to improve its performance using four grades. These are poor, uncertain, promising and excellent. CSCI concluded that capacity to improve in Surrey was uncertain.

Overall the report has highlighted the variations in the preventative services provided for older people across different areas in the County. Also many carers of older people were unclear about the range of support available.

Liberal Democrat spokesperson Cllr Fiona White is demanding improvements in Social Care Services for adults in Surrey. She says that services need to be of a consistently higher standard with better access to services across the County. "Surrey residents are currently being short-changed. They deserve better services. 'Adequate' is just not good enough."