From the Chamber: Upcoming assessment of Adult Social Care

by Cllr David Hare, Executive Member for Adult Services, Health & Wellbeing, and member for Hawkedon Ward

In 2021, the Government announced their intention to introduce assurance in adult social care, including that the Care Quality Commission (CQC) would independently review and assess local authority performance in delivering their adult social care duties under Part 1 of the Care Act 2014. Wokingham Adult Social Care is currently undergoing an assessment by the CQC, and they will be present on site in early March 2025. The site visit to Wokingham will include face to face contact or online meetings with staff, some councillors and leaders.  Before the assessment they will talk to partner agencies but most importantly they will talk to several people who use care and support services.

Following CQC’s assessment we will receive a preliminary report, we can challenge this factually, but things might not be altered.  Sometime later in the year we will receive the final report with an overall score and a one-word rating. We are well prepared for the site visit, had an excellent Peer Review, and this is an opportunity to celebrate what we do in Wokingham.

Part 1 of the 2014 Care Act places a general duty on the local authority to promote wellbeing. One element of this is the protection of adults at risk from abuse and neglect.   An ‘adult at risk’ is someone who is aged 18 years or over, has care and support needs, is at risk of experiencing abuse or neglect, and who as a result of their care and support needs, is unable to protect themselves against the (risk of) abuse or neglect. Care and support is the term used to describe the help some adults need in order that they can live in the best way they can, despite any illness or disability they might have. This might include things like getting out of bed, attending to personal care, accessing work or education, cooking or eating meals, or accessing the community or leisure opportunities.

Adult Social Care receives over 2000 safeguarding referrals in relation to safeguarding adults at risk each year – this number has almost doubled against referral rates pre-pandemic with referrals also generally presenting as more complex. Around 30% of these referrals require a safeguarding enquiry to be undertaken – the remainder usually require an assessment, advice or guidance, or signposting to other teams or organisations. 

Abuse or neglect can take many forms that include the 10 categories specified in the statutory guidance, which accompanies the Care Act. Those are:

• Neglect
• Self-neglect
• Physical
• Sexual
• Psychological
• Financial of material
• Organisational
• Discriminatory
• Modern Slavery
• Domestic Abuse

Please don’t be afraid to report abuse if you think it’s occurring.  Wokingham Borough Council has a well-established Adult Safeguarding Hub and robust processes for responding to concerns raised. More information can be found on the council website.  www.wokingham.gov.uk/care-and-support-adults/safety-and-reporting-abuse/adult-safeguarding