Adult Health and Social Care services are under considerable pressure in Sheffield, after a reduction in government funding and increased demand.
Despite the setbacks, Sheffield’s social sector is performing at satisfactory levels, but the council are keen to monitor them to provide the best service possible.
Councillor Angela Argenzio, Chair of the Adult Health and Social Care Committee, said: “We know that we must meet the needs of those who need care and support from Adult Social Care, it’s not easy, and we are determined to do the best that we can with the resources we have.”
After COVID-19, the council increased the number of annual reports to evaluate how care homes and social workers are doing under stressful conditions.
Cllr Aergenzio said: “We are grateful to everyone in the city who is providing adult social care services every day, in whatever capacity. You are making an enormous difference to people’s lives in Sheffield.”
Over the next six months, the council are hoping to improve social care by lowering waiting times to less than two weeks for an assessment or therapy.
The Green Party Councillor called for better government funding, which faced a £9 million funding gap.
The council are also focused on supporting well-being outcomes, employment, and educational opportunities for people with a Learning Disability, Autistic People, and People experiencing mental ill health.
They also want to ensure that 95% of safeguarding contacts are screened in one day and safeguarding enquires are completed within 20 days on a sustained basis.
Their plan also makes specific reference to ensuring a focus on Climate Change to adapt to net zero.
According to the councils’ report, this year 59% of people in adult care in Sheffield, feel like their needs are fully met by the sector and only 6% believed that they were not.