29/11/07 - Rising Stars, Conservatives Deliver Improvements To Adult Social Care In Swindon

Star-shaped cakes baked by adults with learning disabilities have helped the council celebrate an improved rating for care services.

Government inspectors gave Swindon Council's Adult Social Care Service, which provides care homes and services for adults with all kinds of disabilities, two out of a possible three stars.

In 2003 the council's then social services department, which has since been broken up into other departments, was awarded a zero star rating by inspectors.

But huge changes have transformed the quality of the services the council offers.

Coun David Renard (Pictured above), Swindon Council's cabinet member for health, housing and social care, said the rating covered a massive range of services - all of which had improved.

"And the inspectors also noted that we had promising prospects for future improvement too," he said.

"One of the changes we made in the past two years which has made a difference has been the modernisation of our care homes.

"Some time ago we had six care homes which were not meeting the standards for quality of care and accommodation.

"We took a controversial decision to close two homes and re-invested the money into the remaining properties.

"The staff were moved to the other homes, giving us higher staff ratios, and we put money into improving the accommodation.

"Since then people have noticed a real difference in the quality of care and the Commission for Social Care Inspection team noticed them too.

"Four years ago we were ranked as one of the worst authorities.

"Now we are getting up there towards the best."

The special cakes created to mark the occasion were made by people with learning disabilities from Upham Road Adult Training Centre, as part of the UR Cakes project.

The group sells cakes, scones and biscuits on the first and third Friday of every month at the temporary library in Princes Street.

Maria Bradford, 26, of Stratton, said: "I love baking, so this is a great idea.

"I will be doing a food hygiene course, which means that in future I can hopefully get a job in the catering business."

Swindon Advertiser 29/11/07

Cllr Justin Tomlinson, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate - Swindon North, "One of the biggest failings of the former Labour Council was the disgraceful 0 star rating for Adult Social Care.  Through their mismanagement and poor leadership the most vulnerable in Swindon were being failed.  The Conservatives have made this a priority and we are delighted standards are on the rise.  We will continue to do all we can to drive up standards across the board."