The Chief Inspector for Care and Social Services, Imelda Richardson, has welcomed improvements to services but is calling on local authority social services and providers to both increase the pace of change and, improve the quality and consistency of services.

The Care and Social Services Inspectorate for Wales (CSSIW) annual report for 2008-09 published today (Monday) recognises the many examples of good practice throughout Wales, but also highlights that there continues to be variation in performance between authorities and in the range and quality of services available across Wales.

Local authority social services continue to improve in core areas such as assessment, care management and reviews. Service users and their carers also report satisfaction with the services they receive.

In regulated services, performance is improving and there is greater evidence of respect for service users’ dignity and their involvement in decision making is highlighted in the report. The meeting of individual needs is central to this.

CSSIW has identified that financial pressures will require increased impetus on driving improvement and modernising services.

The Chief Inspector said:

The challenge for all public bodies is to deliver quality services that provide value for money within a context of increasing demand and rising expectations. Together these are powerful drivers for change.

Local authorities and providers must work together and build on the strong foundations in place in Wales to help social services and social care meet the challenges, aspirations and needs of citizens. We must grasp the opportunity now.

CSSIW has taken forward the evidence from this report in developing its workplan for 2009-10. This is looking at key areas of safeguarding for children and adults as well as delivering individual inspection programmes in each local authority.