ADULT care staff at Newport City Council have been praised for their “compassion, professionalism and dedication” following an “extremely positive” inspection report from the sector’s regulator.
Cllr Laura Lacey, the council’s cabinet member for social services, added she was “delighted” with a Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) team’s recent review of Newport’s adult care department.
In their report, the inspectors commended the department’s “effective” leadership and said staff show a “strong commitment to providing high-quality care and support”.
Safeguarding practices are “robust” and there is a commitment to prevention and early help, the inspectors added.
The council was found to generally treat people with “respect and dignity”, and its staff “flexible, professional and positive” – but CIW said the council could improve the consistency of standards.
Prevention work includes a commitment to “positive practice” and people are connected to community-based wellbeing support and activities.
The inspectors also said the council commits to recognition and support for unpaid carers, with one describing it as “incredible”.
“We were listened to, our thoughts and feelings always taken into account, and regular updates provided,” the carer added.
The inspectors did note some delays in completing social work assessments and access to information, however.
Work to address wellbeing, such as responding to safeguarding reports, is “timely and proportionate”, CIW judged.
But the regulator found the recruitment and retention of approved mental health professionals (AMHPs) is a “significant challenge” for Newport City Council, which “must ensure they have enough… to meet their statutory responsibilities”.
Partnership working, meanwhile, is “effective” on a regional level and professional relationships are “based on cooperation and a shared understanding of what matters”.
In her praise of the adult care staff, Cllr Lacey said she was “immensely proud of the work they do”.
Cllr Deb Davies, the council’s deputy leader, welcomed the “brilliant” CIW report and also praised the “absolutely phenomenal” Community Connectors service, which the inspectors had called “highly effective at identifying community support” for people.
The council leader, Cllr Dimitri Batrouni, said care workers do a “hard job”, but the council’s department had “met that challenge”.
