"SIGNIFICANT improvement" is required in a number of areas of Powys County Council's Adult Services following a report by Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW)

The inspection took place in January and was prompted by concerns raised and issues identified during the children’s services inspection in 2017.

The report found evidence that there was an "unacceptable backlog of safeguarding work at screening and enquiry stages."

Some people received good care and support but this was "not consistent."

Some people faced significant delays in being assessed for care and support and in receiving a service.

But there were some positives as well as the CIW highlighted that: "There was good co-operation between frontline health and social care staff and a range of voluntary sector and community groups."

"Urgent safeguarding referrals were dealt with swiftly and effectively."

And the inspectors noted the commitment of staff who have shown professionalism whilst coping with many changes and depleted resources.

Care Inspectorate Wales, Chief Inspector, Christine Baranski, said: "Although our inspection has identified significant areas for improvement, the local authority has taken positive steps to improve and stabilise the service, including the appointment of a permanent Director of Social Services.

"With the support of the Improvement and Assurance Board, we expect to see swift improvement across social services to ensure positive outcomes for people with care and support needs, their families and carers in Powys.

Powys Council said that they been fully accepted the report which will form a key part of the council’s 2017-2020 adult services improvement programme which has received£6.5m for the next 12 months.

Council leader, Cllr Rosemarie Harris, said: “We recognise that there are improvements to be made.

"We have just put in place an Improvement and Assurance Board, with increased support from Welsh Government and the Welsh Local Government Association.

"This will perform an independent role, monitoring our progress in delivering reform and also providing new ideas about how to sustain the positive changes being made.”

Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Cllr Stephen Hayes added: “ The inspectors have provided valuable feedback about the areas where improvement is needed, which will be used to support our plans for strengthening services.

“We will ensure the whole council is focussed addressing urgently those areas where significant concerns have been raised.

But opposition councillors have made their own suggestion of how to improve the services.

Plaid Cymru - Green Group Leader, Cllr Elwyn Vaughan, said:“The fundamental question now is how Powys reacts to this report and takes positive immediate action to strengthen the situation.

"We suggest the following a plan of action similar to the one undertaken following the critical report on children’s services last year

"Use the lessons learnt as part of the reform of Children’s Services to assist Adult Services

Cllr Vaughan also suggested reform and strengthen the Powys People Direct (PPD) contact centre and the need of having an integrated fully bilingual contact centre to serve all the needs of Powys.

Liberal Democrat group leader, Cllr James Gibson-Watt said that he would be holding cabinet members to account to ensure improvements happen.

Cllr Gibson-Watt, said: "This and indeed previous years, the council’s Independent/Conservative Cabinet and senior managers must now provide the political and managerial support to social work staff to deliver the improvements we all want to see."