Foreword
Pete Fahy, Director of Adult Services and Housing
The production of this Annual Report remains an important part of the annual cycle of Adult Social Care. It provides an opportunity for reflection on the progress we have made and challenges we face in delivering Adult Social Care within the city.
The year this report covers, 2022/2023, a year that commenced with the expectation of a number of Adult Social Care reforms coming to fruition but ended with an uncertain reform agenda where elements had been indefinitely postponed (Liberty Protection Safeguards) and others subject to long delays (Care Cap delayed to October 2025). What did however come to fruition was the introduction of Care Quality Commission (CQC) assessment of Adult Social Care from April 2023. Understanding this assessment framework and preparing for it will dominate much of what we do in 2023/24 and subsequent years.
In respect of our performance, we continue to see increases in the number of people approaching us for care and support. Although we continue to deliver services in a way that promotes people’s independence to not be reliant on social care, the increasing demands, on a workforce that has remained static is not to be underestimated. It is very easy to use phrases such as ‘growing demand and growing complexity’ and ‘challenges in social work recruitment’ but the impact is that many good professionals are finding it increasingly difficult to provide the standard of service they desire. This is one of the reasons why the workforce is such a key priority for us, but with an ever-tightening financial outlook that is very, very difficult.
Although our promoting independence approach remains the bedrock of our service model there also may be opportunities to work more with communities to develop alternatives to regulated support. The potential and ambition for this is captured within the Council’s One Coventry Plan 2022-2030 and particularly the ‘Improving outcomes and tackling inequalities within our communities’ priority and over 2023/24 we want to understand more about what might be deliverable in this area.
Regardless of what lies ahead, due to the people I work with and the commitment they show I remain certain that we will rise to the challenges and remain immensely proud and privileged to be the Director of Adult Social Care for Coventry City Council.
I hope you find this Annual Report informative and as always myself and my team are happy for any feedback.
Councillor Linda Bigham, Cabinet Member for Adult Services
I took up my responsibilities as Cabinet Member for Adult Services in May 2023 and in a relatively short period of time I have had the chance to get a much closer look at the people involved in what is a committed and compassionate service.
Adult Social Care is an incredibly rewarding and fulfilling job, supporting other members of the community who are often experiencing a time of crisis.
Each year an Adult Social Care Report is produced, and this offers a vital insight into the services provided with the support of our partner organisations. We want to explain this as clearly as we can and that’s why we try to make it available to as many people as possible.
In particular, it reflects on the experiences of those using the services – and the difference, the care provided, makes for people. The Adult Social Care team continue to provide high-quality services, care and respite to the most vulnerable adults living in the city and to their family, and carers.
As we are all aware these services also face increasing demands at a time when funding is limited, and the impact of the cost-of-living crisis is affecting us all.
The pressures placed upon staff mean that it is even more important to recognise the hard work, dedication and willingness to go the extra mile we see reflected in the wide range of examples included in the report. The impact on people and the outcomes achieved by those who need our services is excellent! I also realise that many people who work in social care also have caring responsibilities outside of their job, a day doesn’t go by when I don’t think of the massive contribution and sacrifice of all informal carers and how this simply isn’t recognised sufficiently by the Government.
As the service prepares for the newly introduced Assurance Framework, governed by the Care Quality Commission, I am confident that the professionalism and commitment demonstrated within this report will lead to a positive outcome for Coventry Adult Social Care.
I hope you find the report helpful and interesting, but please do get in touch if you would like any further information or to offer us any feedback on the Annual Report by emailing getinvolvedasc@coventry.gov.uk.