21.09.23
Cardiff Council’s annual Social Services report has outlined some of the key achievements of staff, partners, and carers in the city over the past 12 months.

The report has also highlighted the continuing challenge of an ever-rising demand for services and a noticeable increase in the complexity of the issues being faced by people who need its help and support.

Despite the challenges, the report highlights a number of significant achievements in both children’s and adult services, including:

Children’s Services

• 4,623 cases closed, and remain closed (as of March 2023)
• 93 children looked after moved to an independent living placement
• Strategy for 2023-26 agreed
• Major improvements to Youth Justice Service recognised
• An Interventions Hub embedded

Adult Services

• 6,879 care and support plans and 2,831 reviews completed
• 1,247 events held to support older people in staying active and connected to their community with 13,459 participants
• Care’Diff launched to support unpaid carers with information and advice
• A new mental health supported living scheme established as a step-down from residential care
• 45 hospital discharges with care were supported each week on average
• Best practice in dementia care embedded through whole home reviews

Social Services

• 97,116 meals delivered by Meals on Wheels throughout the year
• 753 people registered with Cardiff Cares Academy since October 2021, with 135 new carers helped into a job in 2022-23

Commenting on the report, Cllr Ash Lister, Cabinet Member for Social Services position, covering Children’s Services, said: “Good progress has been made in the year in delivering our current Children’s Services Strategy – Striving for Excellence. We’ve continued to visit frontline services throughout the year, gaining an insight into their day-to-day work, the challenges they face and the successes that they achieve. We are really grateful to all our staff and partners who work tirelessly to support the people and families who receive our services.”

Cllr Norma Mackie, Cabinet member, with responsibility for Adult Services, added: “I am proud of what has been achieved this year in delivering our Ageing Well Strategy and our work to become an Age Friendly City. This could not have been achieved without the hard work of our staff and the support of our many partners, volunteers, the third sector and care providers, including unpaid carers. The report is a testament to all their hard work.”

“There remains much to do and we will continue to work together to provide the leadership needed to support our social care services.”

The report was discussed at the Council’s Cabinet committee meeting today. The full report is available to view now here