An independent watchdog says a Cumbrian service which is working to improve the lives of people in Cumbria who need extra help and support to live independently has promising prospects.
Delivery of the government’s Supporting People programme in Cumbria has been judged ‘fair’ with ‘promising prospects’ for improvement by Audit Commission inspectors.
This is the first time the service - launched nationally in April 2003 - has been inspected in Cumbria.
Supporting People, which is administered by Cumbria County Council in partnership with the Primary Care Trust, Probation Service and six district councils, provides housing related support to more than 10,000 people with a variety of different needs including mental health sufferers, substance misusers and victims of domestic violence.
The sort of support given includes help with form filling, budgeting advice and the installation of community alarms.
Praise was given to the way the county council plans to develop the programme in the future and the positive working relationship it has developed with service providers across the county.
More focus is needed to involve service users in the programme’s delivery and improve working with the health service - something which the council believes will be made easier by the recent creation of a single Primary Care Trust for the whole of Cumbria.
Councillor Oliver Pearson, cabinet member responsible for Adult Social Care, said: "Supporting people who need extra help to live as independently as possible is hugely important.
"Today’s Audit Commission report confirms that this important programme is moving in the right direction and well placed to make more improvements in the years ahead.
"We are by no means complacent about the work that lies ahead and welcome the inspector’s recommendations on how we can make further improvements."
Cumbria County Council’s Director of Adult Social Care, Jill Stannard said: "We are already working hard with our partners to tackle the issues raised by the inspectors, and will make sure services continue to improve for the people we support."
The county council is today publishing an Action Plan setting out the steps it is already taking to address recommendations in the Audit Commission report on how Cumbria’s Supporting People programme can be further improved.
ENDS
Media enquiries to Mark Graham, Media Officer on 01228-606337
Notes for Editors
A copy of Audit Commision's Supporting People inspection report is attached.
Follow this link to view a copy of Audit Commision's Supporting People inspection report