DAVID HEATH CONGRATULATES SOMERSET COUNTY COUNCIL ON YET ANOTHER ACCOLADE

3.03.00pm GMT Thu 27th Nov 2008

David Heath MP has this morning congratulated Somerset County Council on yet again being told by an independent body that they are providing excellent quality services.

For four years running Somerset County Council's Adult Social Care Services have been given the highest possible 3 Star "Excellent" rating by the Commission for Social Care Inspection.

Not only have they been given an excellent rating, but Somerset County Council's service has been declared the best in the whole country.

The services, which work with older people and adults with a learning disability, physical disability or sensory loss, are rated "Excellent" for both 'Delivering Outcomes' and 'Capacity to Improve'. Somerset County Council is the only County Council in the country to achieve that accolade in both the key judgement areas.

David Heath MP said: "Yet again Somerset County Council has been awarded an 'excellent' rating, making them the best in the country at providing Adult Social Care. The Council should be justifiably proud of their achievements and local residents accessing this service can be confident in the quality of care provided to them.

I would like to extend my congratulations to the officers and Councillors of Somerset County Council for all their hard work in achieving this award."

The County's awards are in stark contrast to the recent Audit Commission rating of Conservative-controlled Mendip District Council's strategic housing service, which rated it as poor with uncertain prospects for improvement.