Julia Lopez MP has highlighted the importance of the new Havering Council administration getting to grips with problems in adult social care after the Care Quality Commission rated the borough as “Requires improvement”.
Mrs Lopez raised the issue with the new Leader of Havering Council, Cllr Keith Prince, during their meeting last week, where adult social care was one of the first issues discussed.
The CQC report found a mixed picture in Havering, with adult social care recognised as a priority for the Council but with serious concerns around delays, support for unpaid carers, transitions from children’s to adult services and oversight of some safeguarding processes.
The regulator highlighted that staffing pressures in some frontline teams were affecting the timeliness of support, with some people waiting more than a year for an assessment and several years for a review. It also found that unpaid carers did not always receive the support they needed, with some struggling to access breaks from their caring responsibilities.
The report also noted that young people did not always experience smooth transitions into adult services, with delays in support being put in place and communication needing improvement.
During her meeting with Cllr Prince, Mrs Lopez emphasised the need for Havering Council to get a proper grip on both its financial position and the services for which it is now responsible. Adult social care is one of the most important services delivered by the Council and is regularly raised by residents and families through casework with Mrs Lopez’s office.
The CQC report did identify areas of good practice, including examples of person-centred support, strong partnership working and reablement services that were performing above the national average. However, Mrs Lopez said the overall findings underline the need for urgent improvement and clear accountability.
Mrs Lopez said:
“Adult social care is one of the most sensitive and important responsibilities any council has. It affects older residents, disabled adults, unpaid carers and families who are often trying to navigate complex support at very difficult moments in their lives.
“This CQC report should be treated as a serious warning for the new administration. It is not acceptable for residents to face very long waits for assessments, reviews or the support they need to live safely and independently.
“I discussed this with Cllr Prince when we met last week because the Council needs to get a proper grip on these problems. That means sound finances, better oversight, clearer communication with families and a credible plan to improve services.
“I will work constructively with the new administration where that helps deliver progress for residents. But the Council must take responsibility for the services it now controls and show residents that these issues are being properly addressed.”
