Scottish Government

Inspection findings

Inverclyde social work services deliver good outcomes for many people who use their services. There are some services where their performance is amongst the best in Scotland. For example, the number of people with learning disabilities who get community short breaks and the reduction in the number of persistent young offenders.

There has been good leadership from the management team who have been running the social work service without a director for eighteen months. Thus, social work services have functioned effectively in the absence of corporate leadership.

Social work services have a dedicated, loyal, and skilled workforce, which is committed to delivering high quality social work services to vulnerable people in Inverclyde.

We found evidence of effective joint working between social work services and the NHS. The Inverclyde Council and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde partnership has made good progress in this area. For example, it has exceeded the target the Scottish Executive set for reducing delayed discharges from hospital.

Some of the buildings used by social work services were in a very poor state. They were not good enough for people who use the services or the staff who work in them. Buildings that are not fit for purpose need to be replaced or refurbished.

Social work services had significant underspends in the last three financial years. These underspends mainly related to earmarked reserves which were in addition to the allocated social work budget. They need to put financial systems in place to deal with this problem.

Improvement is also required in the following areas:

• managing and monitoring the performance of services
• quality assurance to evaluate the effectiveness of services
• collecting and using information to manage services more effectively
• carers' assessments
• the educational attainment of looked after children

Some examples of good services delivered by social work services and partner agencies

• Active Steps provided the opportunity for children who were in need/looked after or accommodated, to access a range of sports, physical and cultural activities. This program promoted inclusion by involving the parent or carer and aimed to improve relationships in the family.
• The home detox outreach service for people with alcohol problems was an innovative project. Two outreach workers, along with the detox community care charge nurse, assessed service users' needs. Service users got support, advice, and advocacy and were encouraged to access mainstream community services. Workers also provided support for carers, if required.
• The Korsakoff unit provided supported living accommodation for people who suffer from alcohol related brain damage due to a history of long term heavy drinking. Many residents had previously stayed in long stay psychiatric wards. We met tenants who told us they felt safe, and valued having "their own flat" They could live with their partner if they wished. This is a unique and innovative service developed to meet specific needs in Inverclyde.
• The special needs in pregnancy service ( SNIPS) helped pregnant women in Inverclyde to access a range of services. Multi disciplinary assessments are done. The service has two midwives, two family support workers, a homemaker, senior social worker, health visitor, senior nurse from Inverclyde drug services and a community drug team worker. There is a strong emphasis on prevention. Women with a range of issues and difficulties are therefore encouraged to use the service.

What is a performance inspection?

The Social Work Inspection Agency ( SWIA) is carrying out performance inspections of all local authority social work services in Scotland.

SWIA gathers and analyses a wide selection of information about a local authority and the social work services it provides or is responsible for. The inspection findings are published in a report that identifies strengths as well as areas for improvement.

This leaflet summarises some key findings of the inspection of Inverclyde's Council's social work services, found in a report published in September 2006.

Inverclyde Council will produce an action plan in response to the inspection report. The plan will set out how any necessary changes are to be made. Once the plan is agreed, SWIA and the council will monitor the implementation of the plan together.

If you would like a copy of the full report or would like to know more about SWIA, please contact:

0131 244 4885
Fax: 0131 244 5496
E-mail:info@swia.gsi.gov.uk
Website:www.swia.gov.uk

Alternative formats are available on request from the Social Work Inspection Agency. An electronic version is available along with our contact details on the SWIA website at swia.gov.uk