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Positive feedback for Flintshire 

Published: 25/11/2021

The Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) has recently published its National Overview Report for Assurance Checks and Flintshire has received positive feedback in several areas.

The assurance checks on all Welsh local authorities undertaken between September 2020 and July 2021. The areas receiving a special mention are:

1. Our Direct Payment website where the report stated that we had been innovative as our website “specifically related to direct payments and personal assistants. A register aims to help citizens and their families search for personal assistants and vice versa as well as “advertising” for personal assistants to develop their skills.”
2. Our support for newly qualified social workers who reported they had been supported and inducted effectively.
3. Positive staff morale and manager support – our employees appreciate the flexible approach to managing both their work life balance, including accommodation of home-schooling. 
4. Our targeted support for adults with the availability of step up/down and community resources to support people; this included specialist dementia workers, timely access to equipment, minor adaptations, and assistive technology. We also heard how the solution focused approach in mental health prevented people from going on to need more intensive services. 
5. We were praised for our prudent approach to resource allocation, ensuring the right help was available at the right time which prevents escalation of need and improves the quality of people’s journey through the health and social care system.
6. There was a positive reference to how we manage equipment to support people to live at home through our joint stores – NEWCES (North East Wales Community Equipment Store) – which was described as providing an efficient delivery system. 
7. Day work being available for a service user – Flintshire responding positively to a person who requested an increase in her attendance at “day work” once restrictions eased
8. Minutes of looked after children meetings are written in an accessible way  - effectively involving children and young people in reviews helps increase their participation 
9. Our innovative Mockingbird fostering model was highlighted where one foster home acts as a hub for other foster carers offering planned and emergency sleepovers as well as advice, training and support. The hub home foster carers provide support to around six to ten other foster carers in their community. The aim of the programme is to improve placement stability for the child and the fostering family and help them build stronger relationships.
10. Early help Hub was also mentioned for its positive partnership approach which is proving to benefit children and families.

Flintshire’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Social Services, Councillor Christine Jones, said:

“While it comes as no surprise to me that Flintshire has been recognised for its innovation and commitment to provide a wide range of essential support and caring services to our residents, it is nevertheless pleasing to receive praise and recognition from the CIW. This reflects the excellent work of our staff and teams and the close partnership working with colleagues across the region.”