Social services better but patchy

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The social services watchdog has praised "significant improvements" across Wales in the past year.

But the annual report says services are still patchy in their delivery and not improving quickly enough.

Acting inspector Richard Tebboth said there were huge differences between the best and the worst which could affect vulnerable people.

And he urged councils to "reshape their services" to meet increasing pressures and the changing needs of people.

The Social Services Inspectorate for Wales' (SSIW) annual report for 2005-6 refers to "accumulating evidence of improvement" in local authority social services across the country.

Special measures

It says every council in Wales was providing a better service than it had been a year ago.

The report singles out for praise authorities that had been causing most concern.

Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent and Cardiff have all been subject to special measures following seriously poor performances.

But the SSIW's acting chief inspector, Richard Tebboth says there had been a "notable turnaround" in those authorities and that Torfaen's social services department has moved from being one of the worst performing to one of the best.

There are concerns that not all services are reaching improved levels at the same rate.

Local councils must ... reshape their services to meet changing requirements Richard Tebboth Acting Chief Inspector SSIW

Inspections reveal too much inconsistency in standards of services, something the report says could have "adverse effects on vulnerable people."

There is also criticism of some authorities for failing to put into practice all the lessons learned from the Victoria Climbie case.

The eight-year-old was murdered by her aunt and her aunt's boyfriend in London.

Launching the report, Mr Tebboth said local authorities had to take responsibility for improving in the future.

He said, "All concerned should take credit from the improvements achieved.

"Local councils must continue to improve performance, work more closely with the Health Service and others and must reshape their services to meet changing requirements."

He warned that resources will get only get tighter in the future but he said there's plenty of room for more efficiency in social services departments.

The organisation which represents local authorities, the WLGA, has welcomed the report.

The WLGA's Meryl Gravell said "Councils are delivering year on year improvement and have taken a wholehearted approach towards improving the quality of their social services.

"Today's report shows that their efforts are paying off."

This is the last report from the Social Services Inspectorate for Wales which is due to be merged with another body monitoring care standards.