10 November 2006
Joint reviews of social services in Wales place huge demands on local authorities but are leading to improvements in services, according to an independent evaluation.
The study into the inspections, which are conducted by the Social Services Inspectorate in Wales and the Wales Audit Office, identified the paperwork and the costs associated with the reviews as the two most common criticisms voiced by social services staff.
The research, conducted by Eskrigge Social Research and published on November 7, agreed that the inspections placed a considerable burden on staff, but it stopped short of branding them excessive.
'There can be no doubt that the collection of material for the joint review team is a huge task,' the report concludes.
The Welsh Local Government Association has called for abolition of the joint reviews, arguing that they distract from the task of providing high-quality services.
Richard Tebboth, the acting chief inspector for social services, said: 'This external evaluation shows our commitment to openness and improvement and we will now use this feedback to make the process even better.'
The research team also found a widespread recognition among social services staff that the joint reviews are a legitimate part of the accountability framework. Many said they had been instrumental in improving service standards, not least because the planning of services improved after inspections.
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