Adult care services in Merton have continued to improve in the last year, despite increased pressure on budgetary and service change challenges, according to the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The CQC have released results of their 2010 annual adult social care assessment, which revealed that adult care services in Merton performed well across all seven outcomes.
The commission highlighted Merton’s robust safeguarding systems, well-established partnership arrangements and effective commissioning and community engagement strategies as some of its key strengths. The department was also praised for having robust performance management systems in place to support better service delivery.
The report stated that the council “works with partners to ensure people in Merton are safeguarded from abuse” and that this “partnership working has strengthened and has worked to raise awareness of safeguarding with partners and in the community.”
Merton’s adult care services department has been the focus of a major restructure over the past year to improve efficiencies and to ensure its services are fit for purpose and meet the needs of residents. The commission congratulated Merton for maintaining continual improvements to services despite the department undergoing such a significant change.
Councillor Linda Kirby, cabinet member for adult social care and health said: “Delivering quality care services to those most vulnerable in the borough continues to be a key priority for Merton. At the same time, with financial uncertainty ahead of us, we’re also keen to ensure that those services delivered are as efficient as possible to ensure we maintain the same level of effectiveness for those most in need.”

Notes to editors:
For information about Merton’s adult social care services visit http://www.merton.gov.uk/living/health-social-care