Hammersmith & Fulham (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Adult care services in Hammersmith & Fulham face scrutiny after official inspections reveal significant shortfalls, prompting calls for urgent improvements.
As reported by South London Press, the adult social care service provided by Hammersmith and Fulham Council “needs improvement,” according to the care watchdog.
Eight out of nine areas had some shortcomings, according to the Care Quality Commission (CQC), and a recent inspection revealed that measures to increase access to care “hadn’t been fully implemented.”
According to inspectors, some individuals had to wait 18 months for an assessment, and carers in the borough reported feeling less safe and facing greater financial hardship than the national average.
People had trouble understanding the care system, according to the CQC, especially those without digital access and those whose first language was not English.
Delays in occupational therapy assessments were also found, which the watchdog claimed hindered people from getting the tools or modifications they needed to maintain their independence.
James Bullion, CQC’s chief inspector of Adult Social Care and Integrated Care, said:
“Hammersmith and Fulham were committed to providing good access to care but their plans hadn’t been fully implemented or matured enough to show effective results yet.
For example, the authority knew people were waiting too long to have their care needs assessed, with an average wait time of two months, with some people waiting more than 18 months. The local authority has started a new screening process to manage people waiting and prioritise those most at risk, but there is still significant work to do.”
According to Mr. Bullion, unpaid caretakers had delays in assessments as well, but they ultimately had a good system experience.
For Hammersmith and Fulham council, things weren’t all bad. Mr. Bullion commended the amount of persons who were able to regain their independence following a hospital stay because of the council’s assistance, which the CQC classified as exceptional in a different inspection.
He said:
“It was impressive that 96 per cent of people aged 65 and over were still at home after hospital discharge with the authority’s support, which was much higher than the England average.
This support played a key role in preventing unnecessary hospital re-admissions and the need for more formal support or long-term residential care.”
He added that they were also pleased to see the local authority’s commitment to involving people using services to help design them.
One of the co-production groups had been recognised nationally for its innovation which had provided opportunities for disabled people to voice their concerns and drive changes.
Additionally, the CQC stated that although the council provided short-term respite care and emergency housing to those with autism, it still needed to expand its offerings.
Also the council did not have data demonstrating if disparity existed in the system, nor did it identify any specific quality plan for adult social care services.
According to the CQC, there were “some shortfalls” in the council’s leadership, support for care recipients, and interpersonal interactions. It concluded that the council was “Good” at establishing secure procedures, paths, and transitions.
According to data from the 2023–2024 Survey of Adult Carers in England, 65% of carers in the borough reported having financial difficulties.
A large proportion – 45 per cent – were not in paid employment because of their caring role.
A council spokesman said:
“We have reviewed the feedback from the CQC’s review in 2024. We are committed to providing the best service and care possible for residents and their families.
And we are confident that our programme of continued transformation – working alongside our statutory and third sector partners – will continue to help us do just that.”
In 2023, the council also launched the Centre for Independent Living, a facility that was co-designed with disabled residents of the area.
These days, it serves as a center and offers training, jobs, welfare benefits, and direct payment support.
It is understood that the council is establishing a single directorate to consolidate public health, adult social care, and children’s services.
According to the council website, Hammersmith and Fulham is the only local government that has eliminated all home care fees for elderly and disabled citizens.
The free program has been in operation since 2014 and has now assisted over 5,000 locals. For the past ten years, it has provided free non-means-tested daycare and home care services to all residents who qualify for care.
What are the main shortcomings identified in adult care services?
Due to high vacancy rates, burnout from pandemic pressures, and rivalry from other industries that provide higher salaries, there is a severe lack of registered nurses and experienced care professionals.
As a result, there is less capacity and ability to sustain high-quality treatment while meeting the increasing demand.
More adults need more specialized treatment, particularly those who are older and have complicated mental health issues.
Due to a lack of managerial support and skilled workers, many providers find it difficult to meet these demands, which raises the likelihood of care failures and raises safeguarding issues.
Neglect, abuse, and poor assessment and care planning are among the growing rates of care failures in the industry. The rise in complaints that watchdogs have upheld suggests that there are structural issues with providing safe, person-centered care.