Black Country News: Action orders on care; WALSALL: Council 'worst'.

Byline: By Dale Williams 

AN ACTION plan was unveiled today to improve services for the elderly in Walsall after the borough council was rated the worst in the Black Country.

The council reatined its one star rating from the Commission of Social Care Inspection, with inspectors saying services for adults were "serving some people well, with promising prospects for improvement".

The council was also praised for meeting planned improvements and having ambitious aims.

The council has now put together an action plan to make further improvements to the service in response to the inspectors' report.

Areas highlighted in the action plan include securing better access to specialist mental health services for older people, introducing a robust quality assurance programme and completing the introduction of an improved community meals service.

Walsall continued to work well with partners, involving residents in the planning and shaping of services and providing community care and support packages to help older people live more independently, the inspectors found.

Coun Alan Paul, cabinet member for health and social care, said: "We are glad this report has acknowledged the good progress we have made over the last 12 months, but we do recognise there is still a lot more to do."

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GENEROUS...childcare students with the gifts for the hospital.