BRUM MOVES UP TO TWO STARS FOR ADULT CARE

29-11-2007

Care of the elderly in Birmingham has dramatically improved over the past three years – an achievement recognised by the award of two stars today by CSCI (the Commission For Social Care Inspection.) As recently as 2004 the city was zero rated.

There’s good news for Sandwell, too, which has maintained its two star rating, and is edging heading towards three stars. The Black Country authority moved out “special measures” for its education last week, so there’s plenty of cause for celebration.

It’s Birmingham’s achievement which is the most eye catching though. Adult Services was rolled into Social Services when the star system was introduced in 2002, and Europe’s largest local authority was zero-rated for the first three years.

Although Adult Services moved up to one star in 2005, a CSCI report last year warned that it had “uncertain capacity for improvement” – and that was despite and extra £85 million invested by the government.

All the more remarkable then that it has racked up a second star just twelve months later.