North Somerset services earn three stars for third year in a row

SOCIAL services for adults in North Somerset have received a top rating for the third year in a row.

The Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) has awarded the council three stars following its annual inspection of its services.

The rating makes the council the highest performing authority in the former Avon area and one of only three councils with three stars in the South West.

Of 11 assessment areas, CSCI inspectors found six to be excellent and five to be good – an improvement on last year.

Key strengths of the authority highlighted in the report included the work it did with partner agencies to improve information and public awareness about the importance of healthy lifestyles.

Inspectors also praised the fact that the council offered a range of services to support elderly people living in their own homes.

The report revealed that more people with learning disabilities access paid and voluntary work in North Somerset than in other areas.

The inspectors outlined areas for improvement and said that the number of people with learning difficulties going into residential care was too high.

They urged the council to improve its methods of gathering data on ethnicity during assessments to ensure service strategies were based on accurate information and said the authority needed to continue to increase the numbers of people supported in work.

North Somerset Council leader Nigel Ashton said he was delighted by the inspection report.

Mr Ashton said: "To receive three stars for three years in a row is extremely impressive and a real credit to everyone involved.

"The services we deliver have been recognised as very high quality and that is a real achievement.

"I would like to congratulate our staff, not just in adult social services but across the council and the vital contributions of our partners in health and the independent and voluntary sectors for their hard work in achieving this excellent result."