Inspection of Older Adults Services: Wrexham County Borough Council

We undertook an inspection jointly with Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW) (External link), and explored how well Wrexham local authority, working with Betsi Cadwaladr University (BCU) Health Board, is promoting independence and preventing escalating needs for older adults. 

Findings 

Well-being – We found that people can be increasingly confident that the local authority recognises that adults are the best people to judge their own wellbeing.  

People – voice and choice – We found that people who lack mental capacity can be confident the importance of assessments and best interest decisions is firmly embedded in practice. 

Partnerships, integration and co-production – We found that positive progress has been made in developing safeguarding.  

Prevention and early intervention – We found staff from across health and social care reflected a can do and will do approach, staff were professional and dedicated to their focus of doing the best they can for people.

Areas for improvement 

Well-being – Inspectors reported that the consistency of opportunities for carers to have their voices heard and support for their wellbeing could be improved. 

People – voice and choice – We recommended that in collaboration with key partners, a need to drive a whole sector plan. 

Partnerships, integration and co-production – Inspectors reported the need to move beyond vision statements and ‘good projects’ to a clear understanding of what a system of sustainable outcome focused services will look like in practice in Wrexham.

Prevention and early intervention – We recommended continued work with statutory and voluntary sector partners to develop approaches to early intervention and prevention. 

Next Steps

CIW and HIW expect the local authority and local health board to give attention to areas for improvement in the report. CIW will monitor progress through its on-going performance evaluation activity with Wrexham CBC.