Social care rated 'good' is 'tremendous news for city'

But inspectors did find 'some shortfalls'

- Phil Corrigan Local Democracy Reporter

SOCIAL care for thousands of vulnerable adults in Stoke-on-Trent has been officially classed as 'good.

The Care Quality Commission found that adult social care is a 'clear priority' for Stoke-on-Trent City Council, with the authority committed to promoting people's independence to give them 'the best possible outcome'.

All local authorities are being assessed by the CQC on how well they are meeting their adult social care responsibilities under the 2014 Care Act. The city council was found to be 'good' overall - the second highest rating possible with a score of 64 per cent.

Provision was also assessed across nine individual service areas, each of which was given a score out of four. The city council received a 'good' score of three in five of these areas, including safeguarding and care provision, integration and continuity. But the authority received scores of two in four categories, including 'assessing people's needs' and 'equity in experience and outcomes, meaning there were 'some shortfalls.