HC Deb 07 January 2003 vol 397 cc195-6W
Paul Farrelly

To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to his Department's answer to honourable Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme of 7 November, what mechanisms his Department uses to review the(a) effectiveness and efficiency of social service departments, (b) the adequacy of resource allocation to social service departments and (c) the meeting of local needs by social services, with special reference to community care for the elderly; and what statistics on (i) average assessment times and (ii) waiting lists for home aids and adaptations he collates in England. [80495]

Jacqui Smith

The Department has the following monitoring mechanisms in place(a) The overall performance of each council is assessed by the Social Services Inspectorate (SSI) each year, using a range of evidence from performance indicators, inspections and twice-yearly monitoring information. This assessment incorporates evidence on effectiveness and efficiency. A summary of the performance is published as a performance star rating, ranging from zero to three stars. The most recent star ratings were published on 15 November 2002. A more detailed summary of performance is contained in a performance letter written by the SSI to each council. These are published on the Department's website, at www.doh.gov.uk/pssratings/councilsbylist.htm. (b) It is the responsibility of each individual council to decide what resources to allocate to social services. Most of local government resources are not earmarked by central government. The exception is ring-fenced grants, which have to be spent in accordance with grant conditions; this is a relatively small proportion and will decrease further in future years. (c) As in the answer to (a) the SSI assess the performance of councils, and this includes an assessment of community care services for older people.

The Department collects the following information: (i) Detailed information on the waiting times for clients receiving an assessment for a care package is published in table A7.1 of the referrals, assessments and packages of care (RAP) report for 2000–1. The publication for 2000–1 is available on the Department's website at www.doh.qov.uk/rap.htm. Corresponding data for 2001–2 will be published early in 2003. One performance indicator on waiting times for care packages has been published for 2001–2 in Social Services performance assessment framework indicators for 2001–2, available at www.doh.gov.uk/paf (indicator D43). (ii) Information is not centrally collected on waiting lists for home aids and adaptations.