The department which provides care for adults and the elderly in Birmingham has held its two-star score after a government inspection.
Bosses of Birmingham City Council's social care for adults service said they were pleased with the “good” rating in the report, which acknowledged a “promising” capacity for improvement.
The score by the Commission for Social Care Inspection marks a huge turnaround for the once failing department, given no stars for two years running before reforms.
The city council’s strategic director and cabinet member for adults and communities said they were confident the score could rise, though they admitted a likely struggle against budget cuts next year.
Department head Peter Hay said: “These ratings are a good yardstick of performance indicators but what has been most pleasing is the response of service users. They are talking to us and asking us to change things rather than behaving with the awful resignation of a few years ago. We know there are areas we need to improve and we have recognised what needs to be done.”
The report ranked the council as “good” in seven of eight categories and “adequate” at maintaining personal dignity and respect.
Among aspects singled out for praise were the council’s work with ethnic minorities and improvements to services for people who misuse alcohol and drugs.
Inspectors also recognised “strengthened” measures for safeguarding vulnerable adults after a damning report published in February which made 24 recommendations for dealing with abuse of the elderly.
