Issue - meetings

[Jennifer Rogers, Quality and Improvement Advanced Practitioner, to present report]

The Director of Adult Services in his opening remarks commented that not all local authorities in adult social care services carried out file audits. The Quality and Improvement Advanced Practitioner stated that in 2018-2019 there had been over 120 file audits in City of Wolverhampton Council’s Adult Social Services Department.  In addition to these there had also been two audit the Auditor checks, to check the quality and consistency of the bi-monthly file audits.  Dip sampling audits had been carried out to measure quality or address specific issues as part of the implementation of the 3 Conversations approach.  More than 50 dip samples had been carried out in 2018/19.  There had also been two thematic audits completed during the year.

The Quality and Improvement Advanced Practitioner stated that file audits in adult social care in Wolverhampton took place every other month.  The auditors ranged from front line managers all the way up to Director level.  They measured files in terms of CQC ratings.  There had been some fluctuation in the current year in quarter 2 and quarter 3.  A new way of working had been introduced in July and they thought this may have helped to explain the dip in the results.  However, they now believed it was down to overly optimistic previous ratings.  In November work was undertaken with managers to discuss the findings of an audit the auditor audit carried out in July 2018, which may have led to a more critical approach being taken in November’s audit in response to the feedback that some auditors wererating files as “good” when a lower rating would have been more appropriate.    

The Quality and Improvement Advanced Practitioner commented that there had been some high performance in a number of areas.  These areas included, Making Safeguarding Personal, Demonstrating Dignity and Respect, Timelessness and Responsiveness and Continuity of Support.  Additional areas which had become strengths from quarter one in the current year included, effective multi-agency working, clear and detailed eligibility and involvement of family members/carers.  She was particularly pleased that there had been a significant improvement in care assessments in quarter 4.   

The Quality and Improvement Advanced Practitioner remarked that an area which required further improvement was in reflective and analytical thinking.  Practitioners were not always recording their reflective discussions or thinking on people’s files.  A revised recording policy was disseminated to teams in January 2019 which contained a section on reflectiverecording to support practice and improve worker confidence.  Another action to address the need for better recording of reflective practice included the introduction of a monthly manager support programme from April 2019 which would cover areas identified by audits. The aim was to support frontline managers improve quality and practice in their teams. Reflective recording would be the focus of the session in June 2019. They were keen to ensure the voice of the person was captured within files. 

A Member of the Panel stated that he was aware of a very complicated case approximately two years ago where  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5