Sandwell Council has welcomed the recent Care Quality Commission (CQC) assessment, which recognises the progress the council is making in supporting residents who provide unpaid care for loved ones.
The findings reinforce Sandwell’s ongoing commitment to being a caring council; one that listens to carers, invests in support services, and continues to improve outcomes.
The assessment reflects in particular the council’s strengthened support for unpaid carers. Sandwell’s most recent Carers Survey shows encouraging results, with 72.3 % of carers reporting they had been included in discussions about the person they care for.
Carers in Sandwell now have access to a new Carers Service, offering advice, guidance, emotional support and practical help tailored to individual needs. Alongside this, the council has launched Bridgit, an easy-to-use digital support tool enabling carers to access personalised information, wellbeing content, and self-help resources 24/7 that has supported over 800 unpaid carers since its launch since September last year
These positive outcomes highlight the impact of recent investment and service development.
As part of its commitment to continuous improvement, the council has commissioned independent research involving 42 carers who have been through the hospital discharge pathway. While some of the feedback was challenging and highlighted areas where the system can work better, the council is grateful to every carer who took part. Their insights are already helping shape improvements, including better communication with families during discharge planning.
Sandwell Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Health and Wellbeing, Councillor Jackie Taylor, said:
“We greatly value the contribution of unpaid carers in Sandwell, and I want to thank everyone who continues to give their time, energy and insight to help us improve our services. We are proud that the CQC has recognised the strengths and progress we are making. But we do know that there is more work to be done.
We know that some carers have faced delays or not been offered a carers assessment when they needed one. We also know carers want support to be more responsive during moments of crisis, and the importance of advocacy has been clearly highlighted.
“These messages are important, and they reinforce the work already underway through our new Carers Service. The positive feedback shared with the CQC including good experiences of wellbeing support, sitting services and involvement in shaping the new service shows that we are moving in the right direction.
“I want to reassure carers that we are a caring council, committed to learning, improving and investing in better support. There is more to do, and we will do it together with carers as our partners in shaping change.”
The council will continue working with partners, carers and voluntary sector organisations to ensure services remain responsive, inclusive and personalised. While acknowledging there is always room for further improvement, Sandwell’s direction of travel is positive, forward-looking and grounded in genuine care for its communities.
For more information on support for carers visit: Support for Carers – Sandwell Council