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Inspectors question Powys home care plans' schedule Inspectors question Powys home care plans' schedule
(about 1 hour later)
Inspectors have questioned Powys council's prospects of improving its social service provision following a failed reorganisation. Inspectors have questioned Powys council's prospects of improving social services after a failed reorganisation.
Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW) said the local authority faces difficulties modernising services.
There were complaints of neglect after the council cut its list of almost 30 home care providers to four in 2014.There were complaints of neglect after the council cut its list of almost 30 home care providers to four in 2014.
The council said a CSSIW report was a "positive step". Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW) said the authority faced difficulties modernising services.
The inspectorate said it will monitor Powys's improvement plans. Brecon and Radnorshire AM Kirsty Williams said her "grave concerns" had been realised but the council said the report was a "positive" step.
CSSIW noted that the quality of care had improved since April and while people were likely to complain in the past, they were now likely to be "very happy" with services. The inspectorate said it would monitor Powys's improvement plans.
CSSIW noted that the quality of care had improved since April and, while people were likely to complain in the past, they were now likely to be "very happy" with services.
'Flawed''Flawed'
Two years ago inspectors highlighted what they called an "increasingly urgent need" to modernise delivery of adult social services. In 2013, inspectors highlighted what they called an "increasingly urgent need" to modernise delivery of adult social services.
BBC Wales revealed earlier this year that Powys had terminated the contract of one of its largest suppliers of home care following critical inspections. BBC Wales revealed in April that Powys had terminated the contract of Alpha Home Care - one of its largest suppliers - following critical inspections.
Neath Port Talbot council also terminated Alpha Home Care's contract and that of its sister company Bryce Care. Contracts with three other providers have ended and another withdrawn.
Another company, Reach, had already ended its contract in the north of Powys in September, just before a scathing report was published into the care it delivered. The report said the council's commissioning approach in 2013-14 was "flawed in concept, design, and delivery", and that senior managers were not experienced in this area.
Contracts with two providers have ended and another withdrawn, leading to the commissioning framework being suspended in south Powys. Despite reports of improved satisfaction for some families, it added: "Powys faces a very demanding and ambitious schedule to modernise social services and the failure of the commissioning framework for domiciliary care has made this more difficult.
The report said its commissioning approach in 2013-14 was "flawed in concept, design, and delivery". "The prospects therefore are uncertain and questions remain about the future arrangements."
It said senior managers were not experienced in this area, which it said "remains an area of challenge for the council".
The report said: "One relative told us that she had lived with the anxiety about the safety of her mother, but she now was able to relax and go to work because she was confident in the reliability of the care providers and knew the agency would contact her if there were any problems.
"Powys faces a very demanding and ambitious schedule to modernise social services and the failure of the commissioning framework for domiciliary care has made this more difficult. The prospects therefore are uncertain and questions remain about the future arrangements."
The council said the report recognised that "significant progress" had been made.The council said the report recognised that "significant progress" had been made.
Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Kirsty Williams said she expressed "grave concerns" about the council's "ill-conceived plans" in 2013.
"I take absolutely no pleasure in reading this report which confirms those concerns were realised," she said.
"Whilst the report says things are improving I continue to receive complaints that there is still a lack of staff available, people remain trapped in hospital and there is still a great uncertainty for staff.
"So clearly there is a way to go before people in Powys have the service they need and deserve."