Some of Brighton and Hove’s most vulnerable adults receive an above average service from the council, according to an official inspection report.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) said that Brighton and Hove City Council was “performing well” in safeguarding adults and in promoting choice and control for people with learning disabilities.
This is the second best verdict, behind performing excellently.
The council’s capacity to improve was described as “promising” which is also the second best verdict given by the care services watchdog.
The inspection, carried out in May and reported just over a week ago to the council, said that about 6,000 adults in Brighton and Hove have learning disabilities.
Of these, 702 were receiving services including 257 living in residential care homes.
The watchdog’s report made 17 recommendations for improving services, including
Ensure more effective work focused on ensuring that vulnerable adults felt safe in the community, and confident in reporting harassment or discrimination.
Promote awareness of safeguarding and keeping safe among diverse groups of vulnerable adults and carers.
Address variability in the quality of safeguarding practice and recording to ensure that positive outcomes and mitigation of risk was consistently secured.
Ensure that the use of advocacy is promoted in safeguarding work.
Ensure that more people are aware of services and support that is available to them through promoting access to information more effectively.
Develop better information about self-directed support in consultation with people with learning disabilities and their carers.
Strengthen signposting arrangements to the range of low-level support or early intervention services across all aspects of social inclusion.
Review the adequacy of low-level support or early intervention services for people with mild or moderate learning disabilities.
Undertake needs analysis of people with mild or moderate learning disabilities, whose needs and vulnerability was increased by other factors such as drug or alcohol misuse, homelessness or mental health problems and develop an action plan to address issues.
