Social services 'deteriorate'

Social services in Oldham are 'failing'

Social services in the North West are among the best and worst in the country, according to a report from the Department of Health.

Oldham Council has been given the lowest performance rating of zero stars out of a possible three, one of eight boroughs to be told its services are failing.

The ratings are based on a council's performance in providing services for adults and children in 2003.

Blackburn with Darwen Council in Lancashire, Knowsley Council in Merseyside and Bolton Council in Greater Manchester were all given the highest ranking in the report, putting them in the top 16 to get an 'excellent' rating.

We have not been doing enough Veronica Jackson

Services in Oldham will now be under close scrutiny from the Government.

The news comes a week after Oldham Council revealed its social services budget would be cut by more than £1m.

Veronica Jackson, Executive Director of Social Services in Oldham, said: "We have not been doing enough but we are now.

The SSI (Social Services Inspectorate) has already agreed with us that we have made considerable steps since those reports, which are very concerning."

'Evidence of real improvement'

Knowsley is the only borough in Merseyside to be awarded three stars. - a vast improvement from its ranking in 2000, when it was in the bottom 5% of the national league.

Anita Marsland, Director of Knowsley's Social Services and Chief Executive of Knowsley Primary Care Trust, commented: "They found evidence of real improvement when looking at the scale of our integration with the Primary Care Trust, our local NHS.

This way of working has benefited local people enormously."

Blackburn with Darwen Counil credit their three-star rating to their 'clear vision and direction.'

Stephen Sloss, Director of Social Services,said: "The council will gain greater freedoms in how we alloctae funding for those most in need. Our key priority will be to ensure we maintain our high standards."