Report praises Newport social services

AN ANNUAL report into social services in Newport said there is “much to celebrate” despite the financial restraints of the last year.
Cabinet members met at the Newport council civic centre on Monday to discuss the fourth annual report into the council’s social services.

Mike Nicholson, who is carrying statutory responsibility of the director of social services following Stewart Greenwell’s retirement, said: “The foundations for the social services here are strong, despite some difficulties facing local authorities in the last year.”

The report, complied by Mr Greenwell, said: “The overall judgement is that the foundations remain strong enough to deliver high quality services and that is recognised by CSSIW (Care and Social Services Inspectorate for Wales) in their review and evaluation report for 2011/12.”

Newport council leader Bob Bright welcomed the report’s findings and said it showed the council had taken CSSIW’s report on board.

The fourth annual report of its kind added: “In children’s services, there is a clear evidence of exceptional practice, under the most severe pressure due to vacancies and turnover in front-line teams.

“In adult services, members of staff have come through a period of change where they have faced reducing staff numbers and a major restructuring, along with savings targets that have at times been demoralising.”

It added: “The quality of the work has been maintained and the commitment of all members of staff to do the best by the people with whom they are working cannot be faulted.

“I conclude that there is much to celebrate in both children’s and adult services, when we consider the pressure that both services have faced during 2012/13.”