HALTON'S social services received a boost when the department was awarded two stars in this year's performance ratings.
This represents a significant improvement over the last two years as the council's rating, determined following annual re-view by the Commission for Social Care Inspectorate (CSCI), has risen from one to two stars.
Inspectors concluded that the children's services department is 'serving some children well and has excellent prospects for improvement', while adult services is 'serving most adults well with promising prospects'.
In making its judgements, the CSCI assesses councils against a set of national standards and criteria, using evidence from a number of sources including performance indicators, statistics and reports of previous inspections.
This improved star rating follows the council's leap in the national performance league table last year when Social Services rose 101 places from 112th to 11th in the table of 132 authorities.
This came as a result of a major overhaul of social services, with significant investment, the appointment of a new management team and an improvement strategy for social care, addressing key priority areas for development.
The council invested £3m into Social Services and modernised its services to make them more focused on service users, including children, families and carers, involving them in changes and listening to what they tell the council about how it is doing.
Janet Smart, who is a community care worker with elderly people, said: 'Over the past two years there have been a vast number of changes in the way we work which have resulted in
much improved services for users. The assessment procedure has been reviewed and is now much faster and the process more easy to understand for users.'
One of the notable developments is in providing a new range of care to prevent 'bed blocking' at hospitals.
Joan Derbyshire, 74, from Runcorn, has been helped to live at home by the scheme. Joan suffered a stroke on New Year's Eve and was in hospital until April before moving to Tree Tops intermediate care facility where she was looked after until returning home in August.
She said: 'The staff at Tree Tops were very nice and couldn't do enough for me. However, I am glad to be back in my own home!
'Since my stroke I still suffer with some problems using my hand so it's a big help that a carer visits me every day to do things around the house and to make sure I am coping.'
Cllr Tom McInerney, the council's executive board member for Social Care and Health, said: 'I am delighted with the two-star rating and we are committed to working towards further improvements. I would like to thank Social Services staff for their commitment and determination to improve services.'
Diana Terris, executive director for social care, housing and health, added: 'This is fantastic news, an acknowledgement of the hard work and dedication of staff and is much deserved.
'The social care, housing and health directorate has benefited enormously from the support of councillors and the council as a whole. We will build on this success and will continue to improve our services in our drive for excellence.'
