An inspection report has revealed that people are finding it difficult to make contact with the Vale of Glamorgan Council's social services. However the Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) findings also shows that the council has made improvements in the face of major challenges brought on by the cost of living crisis and the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The report, based on an inspection of the Vale Council's children and young people's services and adult services in January 2023, states that responding to complaints within statutory time-scales has become increasingly challenging for the local authority. This is apparently due to pressures in the services and the increased complexity of complaints.
In relation to children and young people's services, the CIW's report said that most people who responded to their survey "stated that it is very difficult to contact social services and reported issues with communication with social workers, specifically around calls being returned". The report added: "People’s experience of contacting [Adult Services] is varied.
