'It looks like we have just failed our most vulnerable people' - councillors slam review into support for Warwickshire’s disabled residents

Councillors have slammed an independent review into a partnership providing advice and financial support for Warwickshire’s disabled residents who need to adapt or improve their homes.

One said the report made him squirm as he read it while another said the findings were ‘absolutely shocking’.

The review into the HEART [Home Environment Assessment and Response Team] partnership was being discussed at Stratford District Council's overview and scrutiny meeting on Wednesday (January 6).

It was presented by officer Nick Cadd who explained that he had been one of those keen for the independent review to take place so that the council could consider its options when the five-year contract ended in March next year.

HEART delivers equipment and adaptations for Warwickshire’s five district and borough councils as well as the county council and is hosted by Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council and, according to Mr Cadd, it was clear that there were a number of opportunities for the host (NBBC) to improve how the service was delivered and for the board to improve their role in securing how this was done.

An improvement plan has been drawn up and implemented but councillors at this week’s meeting insisted that further reviews are carried out in three months and again in the summer when the chairman of HEART will be asked to attend an overview and scrutiny meeting.

Cllr Chris Mills (Con, Kineton) said: “It looks like we have just failed our most vulnerable people. It made me squirm when I read it. We need to make people more accountable.”

And Cllr Kate Rolfe (Lib Dem, Tiddington) added: “This is probably the grimmest report I’ve read for a very, very long time.

"It is absolutely shocking and it is a great pity that this district council doesn’t organise the disabled facilities like we used to.

"I’ve been around long enough to remember when it worked, and it worked very well.”

One area she flagged up was to do with the feedback from those in need of the service.

She said: “There are a couple of things that stick out with me - one is customer satisfaction - hoping to get 100 per cent but currently at 20 per cent.”

Mr Cadd listed a number of service improvement priorities put forward in the review including staffing and introducing a more effective IT system.

He said: “I was very committed to the HEART model - there were real benefits that could have been achieved particularly around resilience and around expertise because we are a very small local authority.

“We entered the partnership with a lot of hope but like Cllr Rolfe I am very frustrated where we find ourselves.

"I am happy we have had a detailed review and that we have an improvement plan.”