Inspection of Older Adults Services: Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council
Our findings and recommendations for Older Adult Services.
We undertook an inspection jointly with Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW) (External Link), and explored how well Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council (RCTCBC) is promoting independence and preventing escalating needs for older adults.
Key Findings
Well-being – we found prompt professional responses are evident at times when people experience acute ill health or crisis, this is integral to help secure independence for people.
People – voice and choice – We discovered that people who lack mental capacity can be confident assessment and decision making is made in their best interests.
Partnerships, integration and co-production – There are examples of innovative and collaborative thinking by health and social care managers who are able to influence and demonstrate expertise and shared purpose.
Prevention and early intervention – We found that staff from across health and social care services reflected a compassionate and shared vision to support people in the community.
Areas for improvement
Wellbeing – we found that there was a need to consistently recognise carers’ roles and to ensure the voice of the carer is heard; with improved support for carers tailored to enable them to achieve their own wellbeing outcomes.
People voice and choice – we identified a need to ensure a consistent approach to involving people’s networks of significant family and friends as appropriate so they actively participate and contribute to the assessment, planning and safeguarding process.
Partnerships, integration and co-production – we recommend that more developed links and effective links with GPs could improve utilisation of community services to reduce the potential deterioration of older people living independently in the community.
Prevention and early intervention – we identified a need to ensure there is clarity in health and social care collaborative planning of preventative services (for example in the development of primary care hubs and community hubs).
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 Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council.
To view all our findings and recommendations read the full report below.