Staff workload concerns raised in care inspection

Social care services for adults in Coventry have been given a "good" rating by inspectors but they have called for improvements to areas including waiting times and staff workloads.

The team from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) did praise efforts taken by the council, working with other organisations, to support independence.

"I'm absolutely delighted. Many of us will be impacted by adult social care services at some stage in our lives," said city council leader George Duggins.

However the inspectors said some aspects, including waiting times for assessments, gaps in specialist local services and pressure on staff workloads, still needed improvement.

Out of nine areas, seven were rated as good but for two, equity in experience and outcomes and care provision, integration and continuity, the council was told they required improvement.

The authority was commended for work it carried out to understand the barriers faced by different communities in the city, with the aim of reducing inequalities.

Inspectors also commented on people's independence being promoted, which helped to reduce the need for long-term services.

Services like the Coventry Dementia Partnership Hub and The Pod have a positive impact on those that used them, their report stated.

When it came to reviews and occupational therapy assessments, the CQC noted there were waits; however, they said there were systems in place to reduce risk and prioritise people while they waited.

But staff workloads were becoming more difficult to manage effectively, inspectors found.

Unpaid carers had mixed experiences, with most not getting short breaks, but they noted there was support with contingency planning and access to emergency help was available.

While the team found most people accessed local care in a timely manner, some resorted to going outside of the city due to a lack of local provision.

Specialist services, such as those for autistic people or those with high level nursing needs, were more difficult for people to access locally, the CQC said.

Duggins added: "Although we would be the first to acknowledge that not everyone has the quality of experience through adult social care that we aspire to, the outcome of the inspection demonstrates that we are getting it right for many people.

"Through the compassion and commitment of our workforce, who are a credit to the service, we are confident in our ability to further improve."

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