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Council-run adult social services are continuing to improve, but one in five must do better, a new report has revealed. Performance ratings for adults' social services in England 2006 by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) reveals 10 new councils, including Brighton & Hove City, and Poole and North Somerset councils, have achieved the top three-star rating. The Local Government Association commended the results, especially at a time when many councils have faced ‘severe financial pressures'. The results for Brighton & Hove, Poole and North Somerset could well boost the three-star CPA-rated councils into the four star bracket. However, with children's services no longer counted, some council ratings appear to have gone up or down this year, even though their performance on adults services has not changed. This could also be the explanation behind the nine councils which saw their adult services fall from a three to two-star rating, which CSCI said highlighted the need to maintain a high level of performance in order to keep three stars. Falling councils include Wigan MBC, Newcastle upon Tyne City Council, and Wiltshire CC. Thirty-three councils remain on a one-star rating, but there are no councils with zero rating. CSCI chief inspector Paul Snell said there was much good news in the report, but warned that one-fifth of councils in England still only received one star. ‘Although there are now no zero-star councils, for one-star councils or those termed as "coasting", there is a need to improve,' he said. Full results can be found at www.csci.org.uk.

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One in five councils still fail adult social services, says CSCI

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