Social care for adults 'adequate'

Social care services for adults in Northamptonshire remained only adequate in 2008, a national watchdog has found.

But the Commission for Social Care Inspection awarded Northamptonshire County Council a promising category for its capacity to improve.

The report also rated adult services good in three areas out of seven and no service area was listed inadequate.

Rosemary Bromwich, cabinet member for adult care, said she was "delighted" the capacity to improve was recognised.

Last year social care services for adults were also described as adequate, but the capacity to improve was listed as only uncertain.

'Clear vision'

The commission says the council needs to reduce waiting lists for some services and increase the number of carers of people with learning disabilities.

But the report praises the work to improve services: "There is a clear and cohesive vision about the future direction of adult service care and strong focused corporate leadership supports this."

Ms Bromwich said: "We welcome the report from the commission and are pleased we have been recognised as having a promising capacity to improve.

"We still have a good deal of work to do. It takes time to bring about quality change and to shape the necessary improvements but this approach is paying dividends as the shift in categories demonstrates."